by Dorothy Wood
New Market Middle School
Frederick County, Maryland
Maryland Technology Academy

MENU

Introduction | Task | Resources | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion



















 Introduction 


             Are you wondering how to integrate technology into your curriculum?  Are you looking for a new lesson, or something to revive an oldie but goodie lesson?  Are you curious about ways to use the internet with your classes?  Are you nervous about trying this on your own?

If so, joinThe Quest. You will discover a new treasure, WebQuests.

 
 
 















  top

 

The Task

    The Quest will guide you through the rough waters of integrating curriculum and technology.  Upon completion of this webquest,  you will have:
 
 

 a personal portfolio disk containing webquests that pertain to your curriculum
a rubric to help you evaluate webquests
become a contributing editor to The Quest Binder
     (a book of teacher chosen webquests, arranged by curriculum)
designed a webquest, and add this skill to your repertoire of strategies
placed a summary of your webquest on the shared drive

 
 

   So, grab your mouse and let's set sail.
    Return to menu


 
 





 

The Process 
 
 

 While traveling through the Quest,click on the blue colored words to link to other pages that will provide additional information.


 1.
    As you complete this quest, you will play different roles.  Aren't teachers masters of this?  Your first role will be that of an editor.  You will browse through various sites searching for webquests that match your curriculum.  To help you keep track of your favorite quests, complete an Organization Chart.  As you tour, save them to your personal portfolio disk.  Print one of your favorites and place it behind your curriculum tab in 
The Quest Binder.  If you want, you can email your favorite webquest to a friend.  After you link, type the URL of the webquest in the message box.

 
 
Organization Chart                            Personal Portfolio Disk                        The Quest Binder

 
 

Return to menu
 

 2. 
     The Quest will now take you on a tour of various web sites that specialize in webquests.  You will be able to find quests that fit your curriculum.  While at the sites, search by grade level and by curriculum.  Your first stop while browsing for webquests will be the Educational Media and Technology site.   Following this, we will visit the Matrix of Examples site.  Only two more stops.  The Blue Web'n site will provide  interesting quests for you to view.  At the bottom of the page, type webquest as the search word.  The last stop on this tour is the plainfield stop.  You should have a completed Organization Chart with ideas to help you integrate technology into your curriculum.

 


    Tour the Sites










Return to menu

 3.
    Your next role will be that of an evaluator.  Choose any webquest.  Use the rubric to guide you through the process of evaluating this webquest. 
 
   A rubric states specific items that should be included in a webquest.  This will help you identify well designed quests.  Save the rubric to your personal portfolio disk for future use.

 
 

                                                                             Evaluate
 
 
 
 
  4. 
   Now that you are familiar with webquests, and you've seen examples using topics from your curriculum, it is time to try your hand at designing one.  Therefore, your next role is that of a designer.  Think about a topic that would support a webquest.  They are similar to performance assessments, so maybe you can modify one that you have.

 

                                                                                         Design

Return to menu
 
 

 5. 
   Take some time to locate resources and develop your task. Use the template to create a webquest of your own.  While designing your personal  webquest you may find the following resources helpful:

Are you wondering, Why a Web Quest?  Check this link.
WebQuests for Learning
http://ozline.com/webquests/intro.html 

While creating your web quest, you may want to read about web design. Check this book written by Robin Williams & John Tollett.

The Non-Designer's Web Book:  An Easy Guide to Creating, Designing, and Posting Your Own Web Site 

Use these to familiarize yourself with the six parts of a webquest.

Introduction
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/introduction.html
Task
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/Task.html
Process
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/Process.html
Resources
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/Resources.html
Evaluation
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/Evaluation.html
Conclusion
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/webquest/Conclusion.html
 

 
 
Clip art will enhance your product.  You can search Alta Vista for images using the keyword "clip art".  Or, you can take a side trip to Hoxie High School. 

 
 

 Take Time to Design



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 6.
     Once you have completed your webquest, post a summary of it on our shared drive.  Add a copy of your newly designed quest to 
The Quest Binder.

 


Post to the Shared Drive

Return to menu












 

Evaluation
 
 

Checklist:  
 
Do you have a personal portfolio disk with webquests that match your   curriculum and a rubric with which to evaluate them?
 
Have you placed a copy of one of the found webquests in 
The Quest Binder?
  Have you placed a copy of your webquest design in 
The Quest Binder?
 
Have you posted a summary of your webquest on the shared drive?

 
 
 
 
 
 
Rubric:    Self-Assessment
  3
  • I understand that the integration of technology into my curriculum will      benefit my students, and I will use my webquest with my classes. Where do I sign up for lab time?
  • I feel comfortable navigating the web and am able to take students on the Internet.
  • I know the Acceptable Use Policy and will review it  with my students prior to Internet use.
  • I have a checkmark by each of the questions on the checklist.
   2 
  • I understand that the integration of technology into my curriculum will    benefit my students, and I will use a webquest with my classes.  Where do I sign up?
  • I feel comfortable navigating the web, and am able to take students on the Internet with another adult in the room.
  • I will review the Acceptable Use Policy with my students prior to Internet use.
  • I have a checkmark by 3 of the 4 questions on the checklist.
 1
  • I still need convincing that integrating technology into my curriculum will benefit my students.  I won't be scheduling a time to do a webquest.
  • I don't feel comfortable navigating the web, especially with students.
  • I won't be reviewing the Acceptable Use Policy because my classes won't be using the Internet.
  • I have a checkmark by 2 of the 4 questions on the checklist.

 
 
 
 
Rubric:  Print a copy of this rubric and use it to assess your webquest. 
Answer the questions after you complete the rubric.
What did you do well?
 

 

  
Is there an area that you could improve?
If so, what is it?
How will you improve it?
 
 

 

  

 
 
 

Return to menu


 

Conclusion
 
 

     WebQuests have the potential to engage students in higher-level thinking activities.  Students are motivated as they progress through authentic learning experiences.  They have a chance to use a different type of resource.  Webquests integrate Internet experience into your curriculum.  Students at all levels are successful. 
    You've toured the web and contributed your favorite selections to The Quest Binder.  You've also added a copy of a webquest that you have designed to the same binder.  Teachers have posted descriptions of favorite webquests to the shared drive, and have saved favorite webquests to a disk.  A rubric is also saved onto the disk to help with evaluating webquests.  Use these resources as you continue the quest; integrating technology into your curriculum.  Use your new treasure.  Include a webquest in your plans today!

 

Congratulations on completing The Quest

Back to the top

Send comments to Dottie Wood
Last updated June 30, 2004