Hola!
WebQuests are a new concept for me and after exploring many different Quests I found myself wondering how I never knew about them before! WebQuests are great tools to use in the classroom to help students grasp the key concepts about a certain topic. Students are responsible for searching the Web to find out more information on a given topic. The websites with the information needed to complete the activity are pre-determined by the creator. Students gain computer skills while using this technology and have fun safely exploring the web.
A great example of a WebQuest is Stop The Fall. This WebQuest asks students to figure out a way to stop the fall of the Aztec Empire before it happens. Students must research what caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and come up with an idea of how they would have prevented the overtaking by Spain. Each group has 3 members in it responsible for their own job; cartographer, historian, and interpreter. They must work together and complete a series of tasks. The job descriptions are described on the 'Process' page that also includes instructions for completing a paper.
Eventually, students will document their alternate ending to the Fall in a two-page paper. Teachers can evaluate student progress with the rubric. By assessing their paper, participation, presentation, and other small activity assignments from the WebQuest, teachers can see if the students grasped the concept. Students are asked to reflect upon their own work and feel proud for what they accomplished. I especially like this WebQuest because it has a 'Teacher Page' that lists the Virginia Standards, notes, URLs, rubric, and references. Very helpful!
By participating in WebQuests, students can gain background knowledge on the idea and hopefully motivate themselves to complete the task. Of course, WebQuests can influence students to believe that everything they find on the web is valid. You should always teach your students the in's and out's of the Internet first!
Adios,
Ms. Lyvers
Here's the link to the WebQuest, enjoy!
https://sites.google.com/site/stoptheaztecfall/home
