WebQuests provide an authentic, technology-rich environment for problem solving, information processing, and collaboration. This inquiry-based approach to learning involves students in tasks that make good use of Internet-based resources. A literature-based WebQuest uses a book(s) as a focal point for activities. Tasks might involve the theme, characters, plot, or setting of the book. Bernie Dodge developed the WebQuest concept back in the mid 1990s. To learn more about WebQuests, check out his website at WebQuest.org.
Read Internet Expeditions: Exploring, Using, Adapting, and Creating WebQuests. Follow this online workshop to learn about using, adapting, and creating your own WebQuest.
Start by exploring the WebQuests that others have created. You may find a WebQuest that fits your needs. WebQuests all share the same basic elements. These include an introduction, task, information resources, processes, learning advice, and evaluation. Many people start with Search for WebQuests. Explore examples of literature-based and communication skills WebQuests:
- Grades K-2 Literature-based WebQuests
- Grades 4-6 Literature-based WebQuests
- Middle School/Junior High Literature-based WebQuests
- High School/Senior High Literature-based WebQuests
Whether you're adapting an exisitng WebQuest or building your own, consider the following areas to bring literature alive for learners.
- Reflection of time & place
- Experiences & frustrations
- What would it be like to be?
- What if? Use characters as student roles
- Project Idea: Plan an event, party, dinner, or other events there the characters might interact. Write a skit or role play.
- Project idea: Create an oral history for a character.
- Example: What the Door Means (Middle School)
- Same plot, different characters & setting
- Project Idea: Compare the events in the book to actual current or historical events.
- Project idea: Rewrite a scene using a different character, setting, or time period.
- Visualize setting - photos, drawings
- Create settings - drawings, models
- What if the setting…?
- Email visuals to other classes
- Project idea: Create a community, theme park, theatre, or other representation based on the book.
- Reading - The Lorax
- Writing - news article
- Science - cause & effect
- Provide examples & scaffolds
- Example: The Last Spin (High School)
- Compare books
Multiple Books, Multiple Books, Literature Circles
- Same theme, Same topic, Same author
- Example: Multicultural Cinderella Folk Tales (Grades 4-6)
- Fact vs Fiction of Events
- Events at Same Time & Place
- Build Timelines & Maps
- Speculate on Future
- Example: Fact or Fiction: Analysis of Historical Fiction Literacture by Elizabeth George Speare (Grade 5)
- Example: Fact or Fiction: Island of the Blue Dolphins (Grades 4-6)
- Example: The Real Stuff: Realistic Fiction (Grade 6)
- Conduct polls and surveys
- Conduct interviews and oral histories
- Example: Apples from the Desert (Middle School)
- Go to Get FIT: Primary Sources for online resources.
Comics and Graphic Novels
- Ask students to read and create comics and graphic novels.
- Resources: Literature Ladders: Graphic Novels
- Example: Awesome Comics
- Ask students to make comparisons of study guides
- Resources: Sparknotes, Awery Notes, Book wolf, Cliff Notes, Cummings Study Guides, Grade Saver, Novelguide.com, Pink Monkey, Slashdoc.
- Resources: 42explore: Literary Criticism, Write a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick, Literary Criticism from Internet Public Library .
- Authentic Assignments and Audiences
- Go to Get FIT: Authenticity for online tools and resources.
- Information Skills
- Go to Get FIT: Information Skills for online tools and resources.
- Concept Maps
- Go to Get FIT: Concept Map for online tools.
- Interactive Tools
- E-scrapbooking Projects
- take the role of a character and create a scrapbook (cite sources and background info)
- Go to Escrapbooking: Projects for examples of escrapbooking projects.
- Blog Projects
- trace a personal inquiry
- create fictional diary entries at the end of each chapter of a book
- create fictional diary entries based on key events related to book
- Go to Get FIT: Blogs for examples of blog projects.
- Wiki Projects
- a book without a web presence
- build connections between books
- collaboration within or outside school
- Go to Get FIT: Wikis for examples of wiki projects.
- Audio Projects
- conduct oral histories
- record role playing
- record audio to accompany visuals, exhibits, displays
- record original poetry and short stories
- create radio programs and podcasts
- Go to Get FIT: Audio for online tools and resources.
- Video Projects
- conduct video histories
- video record role playing
- create skits
- create 30 second to 3 minute public service announcements
- Go to Get FIT: Video for online tools and resources.
WebQuests are an inquiry-based approach to learning. Developed by Bernie Dodge in the mid 1990s, these projects are more treasure hunts or lists of websites. The power of the Internet is used to access information and provide opportunities for interaction. Consider using a WebQuest to involve young people in real-world problem solving, information processing, collaboration, communication, and authentic learning.
Young people are provided with a meaningful mission; resource-rich readings, visuals, and other materials; and an opportunity for deep thinking such as discussion, critique, persuasion, or debate.
The basic WebQuest contains the following elements:
- inquiry-based, learner-centered
- motivating introduction
- engaging task
- guided process
- quality resources
- meaningful product
- authentic evaluation
- transformational conclusion
Before jumping in, keep in mind that you can use, adapt, create, or co-produce WebQuests.
What makes a good WebQuest? Focus on essential questions that had meaning to learning such as how and why questions. Also look for the human dimension and provide a context for young people. As yourself:
- Is it a quality project?
- Does it fit my needs?
- Is it a good use of time?
- Is it a good use of technology?
Use the checklist to evaluation webquests for ideas.
Rather than creating your own webquest from scratch, consider adapting a webquest. For example, if you're reading a book that includes a particular character, plot, or setting, you might be able to locate and adapt a webquest to fit your needs. Explore some examples of webquests that could be adapted. Consider some of the following areas when adapting a webquest:
- Deal with linkrot by identifying new links
- Mix and match the best elements from a number of WebQuests.
- Adapt a WebQuest for another level or purpose
- Adapt a WebQuest for a particular region
- Extend a WebQuest beyond it's current score
Make a content-area connection. Start with a book and seek out WebQuests on topics related to the book. Then, consider how the WebQuest could be adapted for use with the specific character, plots, or setting or your book. For example, take a science, social studies, or language arts WebQuest and adapt it for use with a piece of literature.
Use the examples below for ideas:
- Are Chickens the Only Ones? (Grade 1)
- Digging for Dinosaurs (Grades K-3)
- Let's Go on a Bear Hunt (Grade 1). Find out about bears in the wild, bears in zoos, and bears in books. Idea: Read The Biggest Bear, Blueberries for Sal, Corduroy
- What's Buggin You? (Grades K-2)
Middle & High School
- Cold War and Civil Rights (Middle Grades)
- Iditarod WebQuest (Middle grades). You will try to convince your parents that Alaska is the best place to go for a vacation. You'll learn about the race, history, geography, art and culture, math, and science and do a live broadcast. Idea: Read Stone Fox or Dog Song.
- Holocaust - Middle School - Remembering the Holocaust, The Holocaust, The Holocaust: Bullies, Victims and Allies a Web Based Learning Experience High School: Holocaust, Holocaust WebQuest, Remember the Holocaust, Remember the Holocaust.
- Surviving Our Side of the Mountain (Middle grades). Your group has chosen to escape to the mountains of New Mexico or Colorado. Students will become an expert in one of the following areas: Land and Weather Expert, Plant Expert, Animal Expert, Supply Expert. Idea: Complete the webquest while reading My Side of the Mountain.
- Underground Railroad (Middle School)
- For good literature-rich webquests and activities, check out Literature-Based WebQuests (San Diego City Schools) and RAMP to Reading (Bottom of Page).
- Go to WebQuests Based On Literature. Notice how they organized their examples.