This past week in my teaching with technology class we had to explore Web Quests and their application to our future role as K-12 teachers. Technology is more than a new and improved faster or smaller computer. It is the intelligent application of ideas in an improved format. A good Web Quest fills this role. Web Quests can be a tool to aide in the presentation of curriculum material.
I am a chemist and engineer, I wondered about the applicability of Web Quests to my curriculum topics. After exploring various Web Quest sites pertaining to my curriculum, I can see how Web Quests can accent lessons. Web Quests shouldn’t be replace the teacher, but a good Web Quest project can serve to apply INTERESTING redundancy of curriculum material. You are not limited to the Web Quest out there. There are plenty of web sites that help you design your own Web Quests. If you are hesitant at first, use those created by others to provide topic reinforcement and review.
These project based web applications can aide teachers through the provision of interactive sessions that engage and stimulate student learning more effectively than standard lecture formats. In addition to reinforcing the curriculum material in your average student, computerized instruction and projects can greatly aide in those with disabilities learning the material. Web Quest projects and lessons can be viewed at the students own pace and reviewed as many times as necessary. Lectures in class are not as easily repeated and flexible in delivery.
The Web Quests I liked the most were those that applied to more abstract topics in Chemistry, Chemical Reactions and the Gas Laws. The ones that I reviewed and recommended were created by the UCI Science Institute. They have Web Quests for various scientific disciplines spanning multiple years. The Web Quest, http://www.can-do.com/uci/ssi2002/chemicalreactions.html, has links to versions spanning six years that include all the UCI Science Institute Web Quests for the given year. This 2002 Web Quest of note relates to the Chemistry of atoms, matter, and chemical reactions. This is a great review of the scientific method as applied to chemical reactions and tests the general knowledge of atoms, matter, and chemical reactions. This would be an excellent curriculum reinforcement Web Quest to allow students alternate presentation of standard material. The second Web Quest, http://www.can-do.com/uci/ssi2003/gas-laws.html, on the topic of Gas Laws provides an interesting and interactive means to cover a topic that can be boring and difficult for some students to grasp. This is a great Web Quest that can be given to students to explore gas laws and properties before the class lecture and experiment. Having the students independently work through this introductory presentation will allow the teacher to increase overall understanding of the curriculum and reinforce weak conceptual points.
Please look into using Web Quests to accent your curriculum topics. They are good for all ages as long as the student has basic reading skills and the ability to use a computer.
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