Make the Best Use of WebQuests (Monday)

Focus on your objectives and decide whether a WebQuest is the best possible choice for students. In a WebQuest activity, students read a plan you have designed, and they research sources you have identified, primarily from the Internet. Then, students must take the information they have gathered and work with it in a way the leads them to more complex thinking processes such as synthesis and analysis. The WebQuest may be simple or complex and can take anywhere from 1-3 class periods or more. For a wide range of examples, check out the selection of examples at Bernie Dodge's The WebQuest Page.

Plan for a Successful WebQuest (Tuesday)

Write your objectives for the WebQuest. Most WebQuests are designed to take students to higher levels of thinking. Choose the content that must be mastered and the thinking skills to be practiced. As you research and plan the Quest, refer back to the objectives to make sure students will be focused on the required learning.

Research Your WebQuest Resources (Wednesday)

Research the kinds of resources that are available on the Internet for your content area. There are many sites with lists of links that have already been previewed by other educators (literally thousands on Glencoe's subject-specific Web sites). Choose the sites that address your objectives for the WebQuest. By including the site addresses in the WebQuest itself, students spend less time searching and more time on the actual topic and activity.

Design the WebQuest (Thursday)

Assemble the components of your WebQuest: the introduction, resource list, task, strategy, and conclusion. As part of your strategy, students may work individually or as part of a cooperative learning group. Write out the WebQuest on paper, making notes on possible graphics, color, and formatting styles. Then transfer the WebQuest into a document students can access.

Use a Rubric to Assess WebQuests (Friday)

Using a rubric focuses attention on each part of the WebQuest. It also helps clearly communicate the evaluation guidelines that will be used for student assessment. If possible, show models of previously completed Webquests. A sample rubric can be found at The Webquest Page.