Thinking theoretically about the use of WebQuests in the content-area classroom,
I can see its value and its many implications. It seems a natural fit for a unit that teaches proper research methods and techniques as well as functioning as a creative platform that is student-directed (Oh, and teacher guided, too). I've been practicing...I'm building a "quest" on Elie Wiesel's Night, exploring characters, point of view, and making connections
with historical and historical fictional texts.
I can see its value and its many implications. It seems a natural fit for a unit that teaches proper research methods and techniques as well as functioning as a creative platform that is student-directed (Oh, and teacher guided, too). I've been practicing...I'm building a "quest" on Elie Wiesel's Night, exploring characters, point of view, and making connections
with historical and historical fictional texts.
My first reaction was that it was a lot of work required to even get the quest up and running! I'm one to get lost in the minor detail work of animated boarder backgrounds but there's simply no time for these indulgences. The structure of the Quests often facilitates the process, however, laying the lesson out with clearly defined "tasks," "processes," and "checkpoints" to consider. I'm glad I've started this project now since I might try to use it in the Fall and I do not want to rush the process! Time-consuming, perhaps, but worth it to be able to try WebQuests in the classroom. Even as a minor station of a learning carousel quests help students effectively synthesize their understanding of the content materials and builds self-efficacy
in the classroom. It's worth a try!
WebQuests do require a lot of work, but you've made a smart move in finding one that does some of what you want and adapting it. My favorite part of this WQ (whether created by you or the original authors) is the modeling of what a news article from one of these persectives might look like. It's often hard for students to imagine what's being called for without a model.
ReplyDeleteI suppose that is why the WQ seems like so much work! You are literally scaffolding a website to support and anticipate the needs of your students. By web-publishing an entire lesson "web" or unit project we have to have an entirely thougough understnaind of our intent in the process. So much of the QuestGarden pre-fab WQ I'm modifying now is about asking me the same question a hundred different ways. Each time they are reaffirming, or I am reaffirming to myself, an understanding of the greater impetus of the plan.
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