A WebQuest may be defined as, “An inquiry-orientated activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet” (Dodge, 1995, cited in March, 2004). I had actually never heard of WebQuests before and initially they seemed a bit gimmicky. When I looked closer however, and visited some WebQuests, I realised that this tool could really capture an audience and make tasks seem much more meaningful.
WebQuests are an excellent platform from which to undertake problem based learning activities. Problem based learning can be described as a method of learning where students take control and responsibility of their own learning, learn a general set of useful skills and in the process acquire and retain content (CQU, 2002). It is usually undertaken in a group, making WebQuests perfect for bringing together and organising information from a variety of sources.
Due to the time teachers would need to invest into setting up a WebQuest, it may be more profitable for teachers to conduct WebQuests over an entire term, and if possible integrate different curriculum areas. For instance a WebQuest might require students to solve the problem of supporting a refugee camp in Africa. In this way SOSE, Geography and Maths could be incorporated in exploring a solution to the problem. There is also the possibility joining classes or of connecting with a sister school on the other side of the globe to help spread out the planning amongst teachers.
Best WebQuests (March, 2009) has a great page that deals specifically with music called, Art&Music WebQuests. If I continue to pursue a career in music education in a class setting, I will definitely consider the numerous benefits of WebQuests.
References:
Central Queensland University (CQU). (2002). What is PBL? Problem Based Learning. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://pbl.cqu.edu.au/content/what_is_pbl.htm
March, T. (2005). The learning power of WebQuests. Educational Leadership, 62(4), pp.42-27. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://tommarch.com/writings/wq_power.pp
March, T. (2009). Best WebQuests. Com. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://bestwebquests.com
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Hi Jane,
ReplyDeleteHaving students work on their projects over an extended period of time I feel is the only way possible for them to acquire the skills necessary for the task. I have recently started making my own webquest and am and aill find it a very challenging task for the next few weeks. However having said this the task will ensure that several KLA's will be covered in the same project, ensuring that time on assessing will be cut dramatically for a teacher.
Cheers,
Loretta