Many instructors have found WebQuests to be a successful way to engage student with an inquiry-oriented learning activity. However, most instructors are limited to using WebQuests created by others because of a lack of web authoring skills. Bernie Dodge has provided a solution to this problem by introducing QuestGarden, a low-threshold application for authoring and hosting WebQuests. Instructors use a wizard to walk through the process of creating a WebQuest. When finished, they have the option of publishing a completed WebQuest to the QuestGarden server or to a location of their own choosing.
Type of Material:
QuestGarden is a true interactive learning object because it allows instructors to enter their own content into a template and publish a finished WebQuest that can be used in the classroom.
Recommended Uses:
Well constructed WebQuests can be used in a variety of ways. The educator using this site can customize the use to his or her specific class and its needs. Individuals, small groups, and whole classes can participate in the learning process. WebQuests can include online work, off-line work, research components, and/or student rotations within a class.
Technical Requirements:
Instructors will need to know how to add content to a web form. For best results, they should be able to copy and paste their content from a word processing program into the WebGarden form. Instructors should have a general understanding of web graphics as they will be able to add images to their WebQuest.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The goal of QuestGarden is to provide a systematic supported online service to make it easier and quicker to create a high quality WebQuest.
Target Student Population:
This site is geared for K-University educators who wish to create their own WebQuests.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic internet and word processing skills.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The content of this site is both thoughtful and instructive. It considers both technical and pedagogical information as it guides the instructor through process steps for making good and appropriate webquest pages, scaffolding the content, and aligning the webquest evaluation with its intended task and standards. Furthermore, being able to author a webquest in a systematic way, post it immediately to a server, and communicate and question colleagues who are also working on webquests offers a support system for ongoing work and development.
Concerns:
None.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
There is strong research support for the use of WebQuests in inquiry-based learning activities. The challenge has always been a technical one. How can web authoring be made easy enough so that all instructors can create WebQuests when needed. Bernie Dodge has addressed this problem by providing a tool that walks instructors through the process, providing them with pedagogical support along the way. This tool is being used by educators all over the world to create structured activities that students can use to solve real-world problems.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
QuestGarden offers WYSIWYG text formatting and the ability to upload pictures and supplementary files. There is style sheet control over fonts and colors used in the WebQuest. Scaffolding extras are built in and you have the ability to download an already created WebQuest into your space and tweak it to your wants and needs. The created WebQuest can be stored on site or exported to any other site.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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