WEBQUESTS - Administrator Request

Date: May 22, 2009
TO: Dr. Pursestrings, Lead Admistrator
FROM: Becky Vickerstaff, English Dept.

RE: Webquests


Incorporating technology, specifically the Internet into our curriculm has been a challenging task. First, students need to be continuosly monitored. . Next, connecting the technology with the curriculum has been suspect, with little value added to the actual learning of new material. I have heard you comment during several meetings that "chartpaper is cheaper than T3 lines."

Fortunately, the tools educators have available are expanding and becoming easier to use and access. To that end, I am recommending we train the staff to use "webquests" to facilitate constructivist inquiry into variety of subjects.

Webquests are web-based research activities that put the students in charge of gathering facts, performing tasks to analyze and synthesize information, and applying the information to produce an end project. The tasks can be as broad as identifying the major elements of poetry or as specific as exlporing the themes of novels through online resources. It is a suscinct and efficient way to sift through millions of sites and direct students to the valid, credible sources on the topics of inquiry.

The primary advantage of webquests is that students are directed to very specific web information that has been pre-identified for their "surfing." No longer will you see students mindlessly wandering about the internet, relying on Wikipedia and YouTube as primary sources of their learning.

The investment on your part is in teacher development. I would be happy to lead an in-service session on developing webquests to facilitate in the implementation of this powerful teaching tool.

Thank you for considering this proposal. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to text me.