Friday, February 6, 2009

WEBQUEST

What is a WebQuest?


A WebQuest is a learning activity used by educators. During this activity learners read, analyze, and synthesize information using the World Wide Web. Bernie Dodge, a Professor of Education at San Diego State University, coined the term “WebQuest” in 1995 to describe an inquiry-based activity that involves students in using web-based resources and tools to transform their learning into meaningful understandings and real-world projects. Rather than spending substantial time using search tools, most or all of the information used by learners is found on pre-selected websites. Students can then focus on using web-based information to analyze, synthesis, and evaluate information to address high-level questions. A webquest is an assignment which asks students to use the World Wide Web to learn about and/or synthesize their knowledge a specific topic.

How will the WebQuest help the learners and the teachers?

WebQuests allow teachers to provide students with multiple levels of support within a lesson. Some examples of these supports include using guided notes, using cooperative groups, multiple representations of the content material, authentic documents, and altering the aesthetic principles of the web site itself. A WebQuest can be utilized in almost any subject area, for all age groups, and for almost any ability level. A teacher must analyze the needs of the students who will be interacting with the WebQuest and determine what supports need to be integrated within the lesson. WebQuests can be completed independently, with partners, or in cooperative groups, based upon the ability levels of the students and the design of the lesson. It helps the students to understand more the lesson in a more easy way. In this way, it provides the students and the teacher a support to achieve the thinking levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. The students will be motivated to do more in their studies because of a new learning tool. Some teachers are already using it in their respective classes. It allows the students to explore and learn. It does not consume so much time compared to the usual class discussion happened in a classroom.

Will it be applicable to the Philippines?

For me, Webquest is applicable in our country since computer are found all over even in the school for educational purposes. Other countries are using it in their elementary students so it’s not possible to use in our country. The teachers were already a computer literate as well as the students so it will be much easier for the class to run smoothly. It will be a help for both of the teacher and the learner because it will be easier for the teacher to apply the leson and for the learner, easier for them to learn as it fascinates them and the instructions were already there. Some teachers are already using this strategy for the benefit of all.