1. Designing the Right Task for Your WebQuest Bernie Dodge San Diego State University http:// edweb.sdsu.edu/ webquest / designingtask/

2. WebQuests Are Everywhere Thousands of teachers are creating them. They write letters.letters The WebQuest Page is getting 2800 hits a day2800 hits a day

3. The WebQuest Page http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/ Examples, training materials, links to other people

4. WebQuest Definitions Inquiry-oriented Based on a doable, engaging task Uses pre-defined resources from the Web (and elsewhere) Can be short or long term

5. Parts of a WebQuest Introduction Task Process –Resources Evaluation Conclusion

6. Thinking about Tasks The WebQuest Taskonomy has proven to useful for helping people think about tasks. Twelve types of tasks are named and explained –http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/taskonomy.htmlhttp://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/taskonomy.html

7. The Standard Research Report Write a three-page report on Australia

8. Limited Engagement Years later, what will they remember?

9. Retelling Tasks Read, and then tell me what you read These are marginal WebQuests Let’s go beyond this! E.g.:Will that Volcano Spoil Our Party?Will that Volcano Spoil Our Party?

10. Deeper Engagement Inviting creativity Raising and resolving uncertainty Rational disagreement and resolution

11. Compilation Tasks Organizing information into a consistent format Selecting and combining examples of that format into a larger collection E.g.: Cooking with your Three SistersCooking with your Three Sisters

12. Mystery Tasks Wrap the inquiry within a puzzle Appropriate for content like archaeology, science, investigative journalism E.g.: King Tut: Was it Murder?King Tut: Was it Murder?

13. Journalistic Tasks Describing an event using journalistic conventions Emphasis on accuracy, lack of bias E.g.: Mexico City EarthquakeMexico City Earthquake

14. Questions to Ask Yourself (Journalistic) Is there a pivotal event that encapsulates what I want to teach? –newpaper –diary –newscast –documentary

15. Questions to Ask Yourself (Compilation) Is there a way to select, collect and organize important information on this topic? - Cookbook - Gallery - Compendium - Calendar of events - Time capsule - Recipe book - How-to’s

16. Questions to Ask Yourself (Mystery) Is there a way to create a puzzle by withholding information?  A blurred map  An incomplete letter  A broken artifact

17. Let’s Take a Thinking Break Take a topic, and try to come up with a task that would be appropriate for that topic and for your classroom.

18. Design Tasks Solving a problem or creating a pre- specified end state. Working within authentic constraints E.g.: Designing a Canadian VacationDesigning a Canadian Vacation

19. Creative Product Tasks Working within established formats for creative expression E.g.: Radio DaysRadio Days

20. Consensus Building Tasks Reconciling divergent viewpoints Applicable wherever there is controversy E.g.: Vietnam MuralVietnam Mural

21. Judgment Tasks Determining relative or absolute worth Making a decision and justifying it E.g. Evaluating Math GamesEvaluating Math Games

22. Questions to Ask Yourself (Design) Is there an object, process or event to be designed within authentic constraints? –A tour? –A lunar colony? –A new constitution? –A replica?

23. Questions to Ask Yourself (Creative Product) Can the important content be incorporated in the one of the standard genres of creative expression? –A play? –A mural? –A poem? –A song?

24. Questions to Ask Yourself (Consensus Building) Are there groups that disagree about this topic? Can you steep your students in those points of view and force them to agree? –A common position statement? –A letter to someone in power? –A compromise design?

25. Questions to Ask Yourself (Judgment) Are there decisions or judgments you can ask your students to make? –The top five x’s? –Which x to do or buy?

26. Let’s Take a Thinking Break Take a topic, and try to come up with a task that would be appropriate for that topic and for your classroom.

27. Persuasion Tasks Preparing a persuasive message on a topic Requires a real or simulated group that needs convincing E.g.: Nobel MathematiciansNobel Mathematicians

28. Self-Knowledge Tasks Blending information from the Web with introspection Career planning, goal setting E.g.: What Will I Be When I Grow Up?What Will I Be When I Grow Up?

29. Analytical Tasks Breaking a topic down into subparts Looking for patterns, relationships E.g.: San Diego-Biarritz ComparisonSan Diego-Biarritz Comparison

30. Scientific Tasks Generating hypotheses Gathering data from web Validating or modifying hypotheses E.g.: Lighthouse Diamond ThiefLighthouse Diamond Thief

31. Designing the Right Task for Your WebQuest Bernie Dodge San Diego State University http:// edweb.sdsu.edu/ webquest / designingtask/