Changing the Way We Learn: Web Quests

Web Quests are a growing way of incorporating the Internet with topics being taught in the classroom. Web Quest can be presented on a handout, on the Internet itself, or by a multimedia presentation such as PowerPoint. But with all new and different things, there will be pros and cons in using this growing technology.

By offering students the opportunity to compete a Web Quest, teachers allow their students to gain knowledge of the subject matter and how to use the World Wide Web. Teachers can create Web Quest to have students gain knowledge acquisition and integration, or to extend and refine the knowledge learned and apply it to demonstrate an understanding of that knowledge.

As with all uses of the Internet, things change. When a teacher creates a Web Quest, there is a risk of the sites on the Web Quest being discontinued or altered. One way of dimensioning the risk is to create your own sites with the information required. This may take a longer time frame than what is available. Another problem in this is that if the site is posted on the Internet, some materials make break copyright laws.

Web Quests are a new and growing way to integrate technology and the use of the Internet into the classroom. A teacher has to be willing to try new ideas in their classroom. The process to create Web Quest can be as easy as a worksheet with an explanation of what is needed and web-sites to explore to full blown web-sites. The possibilities are enormous.

Additional Resources:

• http://webquest.sdsu.edu/webquest.html