WebQuests for Writing – Wrangling the Wealth of the Web

GRANT RECIPIENTS:

Paula Sanchez, ESL / Foreign Languages, Kendall
psanchez@mdcc.edu
Helen Roland, ESL / Foreign Languages, Kendall
hroland@mdcc.edu

Phase I
The purpose of this project is to create WebQuests that will boost our students’ writing skills. A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. The five WebQuests that we are proposing will provide a structured framework which will support learners’ thinking at the level of analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Each WebQuest will guide students through the process of composition culminating in the writing of a particular type of essay.

Writing is one of the most challenging and critical skills necessary for college success. WebQuests are the perfect medium for developing such skills because not only do they provide a structured environment for research, but also immediate access to lessons designed to assist them with their writing project. WebQuests will improve student performance by encouraging critical thinking skills. They will be especially valuable because they are designed to make maximum use of study time – a key concern for our students. Improving writing skills will ultimately lead to greater success in the classroom which will, in turn, result in greater retention. Their ability to write clearly and proficiently will also be of great value in the workplace. As an added bonus, their experience working on the web will promote computer competency. Students must pass the CCT in their first year of classes, and many jobs also require proof of computer literacy.

Phase II
During Phase II of WebQuests for Writing, we will pilot and revise the five WebQuests. Upon completion, we will publish the WebQuests for general use in the college.

In Phase I, we completed five WebQuests that guide students in the writing of five academic essays. Please click on the links to access the sites.

• Classification – Go for the Gold
• Process – From Trash to Treasure
• Comparison / Contrast - Gauguin and Van Gogh
• Cause / Effect – The Plague
• Problem / Solution – In Search of Clean Energy

In Phase II, we

• piloted the five WebQuests to approximately 100 students
• evaluated and made revisions based on student/teacher surveys
• published the final versions for general use

According to student survey results, the WebQuests were useful, and the majority of students would like to do more WebQuests. Teachers found that the WebQuests were useful in motivating and guiding students as they worked independently. Teachers also liked having lesson material that was already prepared and ready to use.

Judith Garcia, Department Chair; Chris Delvesco, CTD; and Rhonda Berger, CTD responded positively and have asked us to share our knowledge of WebQuests with other faculty members.

top>>

As our project progressed, we have disseminated both our project and the WebQuest model

at Professional Development Day – MDC

to Fulbright scholars at Gateway Orientation program at Wolfson Campus

at Kendall faculty meeting

We’ve been approached by ESL faculty from other campuses who are planning to incorporate WebQuests into their classes. In response, we have agreed to work with CT&D to teach future WebQuest courses to faculty.