Higher order thinking skills

http://www.questgarden.com/

WebQuests were invented by Dr Bernie Dodge from San Diego State University.  These are lessons based on web content, and from an ELT perspective I see them as a guided online reading task, which requires students to analyse web content, summarise and explain their findings to their peers and then work together on a collaborative task, such as a group presentation.  Learners are often assigned a role and then are signposted to specific websites in order to gather and sort relevant information, which they then transfer to the rest of the group.  Discussion is followed by a group project, which ends with a product. Possibilities are vast, but on the QuestGarden website we can see examples of travel plans (A trip to London), room design, an exhibition, story writing, putting together a time capsule.  The model is based on the assumption that

- authentic tasks are engaging
- collaborative tasks enhance learning
- evaluation of online data leads to higher order thinking skills

these are:

analysis:  sifting through online content and selecting relevant information

synthesis:  bringing information together, combining information into a logical pattern

evaluation: judging, comparing, reasoning, deciding

In this YouTube clip, Dr Bernie Dodge describes what processes need to be followed to produce an effective WebQuest:

"Been there, done it!"

I have used similar materials in my ELT lessons, without using a webquest site.  Just like the digital format, I have presented an idea to the class via a video or images:

 A worksheet has then guided them to a specific website for reading and information gathering (pairwork).

Worksheet

go to:  http://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday

Have a look around the site and answer these questions:

1. In what year did the first Red Nose Day take place?

2.  Does this event take place every year?

3.  What happens on Red Nose Day?

4.  How can people raise money on Red Nose Day ?(list 4 different ideas) [what is the best link to click on to get this information?  Hint:  we are looking for ideas!]

i)

ii)

iii)

iv)

5.  What, in your opinion, is a good way to raise money?

6.  Link: =  Fundraising Tools.  Find a kit that will help you to raise money.

7.  Task: Present your fundraising ideas to the rest of the class.  

Summary:

I think this activity is very similar to the webquest model, in that:

- it uses authentic materials

- it uses information from the web

- it requires analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information

- it leads to a group discussion and a presentation task 

In conclusion, I believe that all the affordances of a webquest and the pedagogy and learning outcomes that underpin this tool can be realised without the $20 subscription to QuestGarden. It takes a considerable amount of time to design an effective webquest, whereas my collaborative Red Nose Day task (and other similar activities I've designed) was compiled in a matter of minutes.