Activity 1: Examining WebQuest Rubrics

Read the example WebQuest for your grade level and score it using the WebQuest Rubric and then complete the Process Checklist. Also consider if/how the rubric could be modified to better fit your school/classes' needs.

With a partner or small group, compare your answers.

Example WebQuests

• Elementary - Primary
• Elementary - Intermediate
• Middle School
• High School

Activity 2: Exploring WebQuest Sample Sites

Individually, use the WebQuest sample sites to find 1 strong WebQuest that might be applicable in your grade/subject as written and discuss its strengths (based on the rubric used in Activity 1). Then, find 1 weaker WebQuest that could be used in your grade/subject if it were improved and describe how you could make it more effective. Record your thoughts on the Sample Sites Worksheet.

Present your two sites along with a summary of your thoughts to your partner or small group.

Sample WebQuest sites

• San Diego State's Matrix of Examples
• San Diego City Schools Featured WebQuests
• Tech Trekers' WebQuests
• Filamentality's Search Tool (Be careful, this searches for all formats at Filamentality)
• Educational Media and Technology's WebQuests
• Learning with WebQuests

Activity 3: Additional questions to consider individually, with a partner, or with a team:

• Overall, of what quality were the WebQuests you looked at before finding the two you selected? What were their typical weaknesses?
• Did any of the WebQuests you looked at combine WWW resources with other resources (books, magazines, encyclopedias, textbooks, etc.)? What do you foresee as the benefits/drawbacks of creating a WebQuest that only uses WWW resources? One that uses both traditional and WWW resources?

Activity 4: Brainstorm ideas for a WebQuests

Make a short list of grade level(s) and subjects/topics you might be interested in creating a WebQuest for. (You might want to try creating one for a topic you currently don't have sufficient resources to teach well.)