Webquest Tasks

Below are examples of various tasks that could be incorporated into a Webquest. At times, tasks may be used together (e.g. Combination Mystery/Persuasion Task in Crop Circles).

Retelling Tasks - This basic level task involves students absorbing information and demonstrating understanding through the reporting process. This type of activity can serve as an introduction to using the Internet as a source of information.
Example Retelling Task - Students are required to explain the life cycle and migration of the Monarch butterfly.

Compilation Tasks - This type of task requires students to take information from a variety of sources (and forms) and reformat the information to create a compilation.
Example Compilation Task - Students are asked to assemble the 'Ultimate Canadian Olympic Team' based on athletes who have participated in past games.

Mystery Tasks - This is a task that is presented in the form of a puzzle or detective scenario. Students are required to absorb information from a variety of sources and make inferences based on the information gathered.
Example Mystery Task - When mysterious crop circles appear in a farmer's field, students must decide if they are a result of extra terrestrial beings or teenage pranksters.
Sample Webquest - What Happened to the Hindenburg?

Journalistic Tasks - This task asks learners to act as a reporter and create an account of a specific event. Accuracy is the focus.
Example Journalistic Task - Students create a first hand report on the death of Louis Riel.

Design Tasks - Students create a product or plan of action in a Design Task. They are required to work within specified authentic constraints.
Example Design Task - Given specific materials and criteria, build a hurricane proof house.

Creative Product Tasks - These tasks are very open-ended and result in the production of something within a given format (e.g. painting, song, poem, or diary entry). Creativity is the focus.
Example Creative Product Task - Create a piece of artwork that depicts the suffrage movement.
Sample Webquest - Riding the Underground Railroad

Consensus Building Tasks - These tasks attempt to expose the student to controversial topics or topics in which people have differences of opinion in order to give them practice coming to a consensus.
Example Consensus Building Task - Take a stand for or against Confederation. Present and defend your view.

Persuasion Tasks - Students attempt to persuade an audience to take their point of view by developing a convincing case that focuses on a particular issue.
Example Persuasion Task - Students are editors of a local paper and write an editorial on why (or why not) historical buildings should be restored rather than torn down.

Self-Knowledge Tasks - The goal of this type of task is for the student to obtain a greater understanding of oneself. Self-Knowledge tasks require the students to answer questions about themselves that have no short answers.
Example Self-Knowledge Task - Students explore career related websites and contemplate what career paths they may consider in the future.
Sample Webquest - Choices into Action Webquest

Analytical Tasks - These tasks assist students in developing an understanding of how things within a topic relate to each other. Learners are asked to look closely at one or more things and find similarities and differences. They must also consider the implications of the relationships that exist between items.
Example Analytical Task - Students are asked to compare Canada's imports and exports with Japan's.
Sample Webquest - Canada and Japan

Judgment Tasks - Students are asked to make informed decisions, rank or rate items among a limited number of choices.
Example Judgment Tasks - Students rank online art museums.
Sample Webquest - Greatest Composer of All Time: The Trial

Scientific Tasks - Requires students to use the scientific method in determining implications of important issues.
Example Scientific Task - What are the future implications of global warming on the residents of Essex County?