Feb 16 2008
What is a webquest?
The following statements from Lacina (2007) basically define what a webquest is:
- “webquests are inquiry-based technology activities”
- “most, if not all, of the information used by learners is drwan from the web”
- “Their design is based on the constructivist philosophy”
- “cooperative learning and scaffolding of instruction are two of its essential components”
- “resource links typically are included within the webquest”
- “The teacher serves as facilitator, or guide”
The article also suggests some benefits for using webquests (Lacina, 2007):
- “emphasise higher level Bloom’s Taxonomy tasks, such as focusing on using information at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation”
- “Webquests allow students to work cooperatively to learn and exchange new information, while using technology – which provides the muliple forms of information needed to understand a new topic”
Ref. Lacina, J. (2007). Technology in the classroom: Inquiry- based learning and technology: Designing and exploring Webquests. Childhood Education, 83 (4), p.251.
