Common Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them
Common Pitfalls and How to Overcome Them
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In terms of creating the WebQuest itself, there are a number of things that can lead you astray if you’re not careful.
In terms of creating the WebQuest itself, there are a number of things that can lead you astray if you’re not careful.
—Using an inappropriate topic. Not every topic works as a WebQuest—it’s just that simple. But even beyond that, you may find that the topic you choose doesn’t engage your students the way that you hoped it would. That’s why it’s so important to focus on big, important issues that are relevant to them or that reflect some aspect of their interests.
—Using an inappropriate topic. Not every topic works as a WebQuest—it’s just that simple. But even beyond that, you may find that the topic you choose doesn’t engage your students the way that you hoped it would. That’s why it’s so important to focus on big, important issues that are relevant to them or that reflect some aspect of their interests.
—Assigning a task that isn’t unique. The point of a WebQuest is to engage your students in a task that seems new, exciting, and interesting. If it’s something that they could just as easy learn using their textbook, there’s a good chance that they’re not going to be very interested. Specifically, WebQuests aren’t particularly good at teaching procedures to students or at helping them to memorize facts, so including these things as part of their task misses the point of a WebQuest.
—Assigning a task that isn’t unique. The point of a WebQuest is to engage your students in a task that seems new, exciting, and interesting. If it’s something that they could just as easy learn using their textbook, there’s a good chance that they’re not going to be very interested. Specifically, WebQuests aren’t particularly good at teaching procedures to students or at helping them to memorize facts, so including these things as part of their task misses the point of a WebQuest.
—Assigning a task that isn’t authentic. WebQuests are supposed to be about the real world and reflect things that people out in the real world actually care about and need to know. That means that you need to stay away from tasks that seem to “live” only in schools such as asking them to write an essay. Instead, the tasks should reflect things that adults in the real world engage in or need to know.
—Assigning a task that isn’t authentic. WebQuests are supposed to be about the real world and reflect things that people out in the real world actually care about and need to know. That means that you need to stay away from tasks that seem to “live” only in schools such as asking them to write an essay. Instead, the tasks should reflect things that adults in the real world engage in or need to know.
—Choosing resources that are single-faceted. Part of what a WebQuest is supposed to do is present different points-of-view and have students form their own opinions after reading about “facts” that often oppose each other. Unfortunately, that’s not easy to do if you use resources that all seem to be saying the same things.
—Choosing resources that are single-faceted. Part of what a WebQuest is supposed to do is present different points-of-view and have students form their own opinions after reading about “facts” that often oppose each other. Unfortunately, that’s not easy to do if you use resources that all seem to be saying the same things.
The best way to know if you have created a successful WebQuest is if your students come up with different answers to the same problem. This way, you know that they have engaged with the topic and formed their own distinctive viewpoints based on the information. As our world continues to increase in speed and complexity, this kind of higher-level thinking is going to be invaluable to ensure that they have a successful future.
The best way to know if you have created a successful WebQuest is if your students come up with different answers to the same problem. This way, you know that they have engaged with the topic and formed their own distinctive viewpoints based on the information. As our world continues to increase in speed and complexity, this kind of higher-level thinking is going to be invaluable to ensure that they have a successful future.
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