Why can WebQuests be useful in L2

teaching?Malba Barahona

What is a webquest?A Webquest is “an inquiry-oriented

activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners'time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation (Dodge, 1995).”

Model for writing WebQuests

Dodge (2001) proposes the following principles when designing a webquest: “find great sites; orchestrate your learners and resources; challenge your learners to think; use the medium and scaffold high expectations.

A Webquest usually contains the following (Dodge,1995) components:

an introduction (why we are doing this)

tasks (what is supposed to be accomplished)

process (how to go about it)

an evaluative and concluding section.

Model of WebQuests

Examples English Speaking Countries

Today’s News

Frankestein

Fruit and vegetables

Trip to London

Teen Magazine

Webquests for L2 teachers

Why in L2 classroom?

- Students get engaged in collaborative activities

Shared learning experiences and new knowledge

Why in L2 classroom?

Input: Exposure to Authentic material

Output: Different Products can be the result of the collaborative work.

The learning is mediated by different tools including web sites.

Webquests can be used to mediate any language skills: writing, reading, speaking and listening.

Why in L2 classroom?

Webquests promote an integrated approach to communicative, realistic and critical learning as students engage in goal oriented tasks.

The internet is used as a means to accomplish the tasks.

Webquests contribute to “transform newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding” (March, 2003)

Let’s evaluate webquests

To evaluate and analyse some webquests you’ll do one webquest about webquests. Click here and follow the steps.

Enjoy it!