WEBQUEST

What is a Webquest?
A Webquest is an inquiry based lesson that allows students to research and work on the web. Webquests require students to analyze and think critically about the subjects they are being taught. Webquests should contain real-life applications that the students can take out into world. Webquests can be short term (a day or two) or long term (a couple of weeks). Webquests have a certain components, these are: introduction, task/question, process, resources, evaluation, conclusion, and a teacher page. The introduction of the webquest should hook the reader. It sets up the students feelings towards the entire assignment. The task is the most imporatant piece of the webquest. It must be pratical and be set up in a problem solving manner. Most of the time the task can be worded in an open-ended question. The task is essentially what the students must do with the new information they have learned. The process in the next piece of the webquest. This should describe the task in detail. The steps should be scaffolded and you may provide a worksheet for the student to collect data or write information. Each webquest should also have a resources page. This should contain websites, movies, pictures, etc. These should be hyperlinked to the internet. Each Webquest should also have a evaluation page. This should be a rubric that shows the students what they will be graded on. The webquest should end with a conclusion that summarizes what has been learned by completing the webquest. The teacher page is for other teachers to view to see what standard and grade level the Webquest should be used with.
HOW WOULD I USE THE CLONING WEBQUEST?
I would use this webquest in a 5th or 6th grade classroom. If I used it in a 5th grade class I would have the students work with the webquest at the end of our unit on heredity and genetics. The cloning webquest will allow them to think at a higher level and extend it out into the world. One way you could use it in the 6th grade curriculum would be to use it as a current events assignment. In social studies for 6th grade cloning could be part of the current events standard. I plan to use this webquest and will share it with junior high teachers to use as well.
WEBSITES

• http://www.webquest.org/index.php
• http://bestwebquests.com/about/default.asp
• sample webquest http://docs.google.com/Presentation?docid=dg825jtm_32dwzrhpgs