"A
Webquest forces students to transform information into something else:
a cluster that maps out the main issues, a comparison, a hypothesis, a
solution, etc." Tom March, 1998.
Creating the Introduction
By previewing some of the Webquests on the GECDSB Webquest Collection Page, you have become familiar with the stages of a Webquest and are ready to create your own.
The first stage of the Webquest is the Introduction. Each stage should be written with the student as the intended audience. The Introduction should be a short paragraph that introduces the activity or lesson to the students. If there is a role or scenario involved (e.g., "You are a detective trying to identify the mysterious poet.") then it is the introduction that will set the stage. If there's no motivational introduction like that, you may want to provide a short advance organizer or overview of the Webquest. The purpose of the Introduction is to both prepare and hook the reader.
It is also in the Introduction that you'll communicate the 'Big Question' (Essential Question, Guiding Question) that the whole Webquest is centered around. Remember that a Webquest is an inquiry oriented activity. The 'Big Question' should require the students to think deeply about the issue or topic. Through the 'Big Question', students should generate ideas and synthesize information that can be used in the process of the creation of an original product.
You may wish to download and use the following Webquest Template. Open the files in a web design program such as Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX or Claris HomePage.
If you don't know anything about HTML, you may want to try an online fill-in-the-blank tool to create your Webquest. An easy to use one is available through Filamentality.
Developing a good question that will elicit higher-order thinking is an important part of a well designed Webquest. You may want to visit the October 1997 issue of Jamie McKenzie's FNO.ORG in which he outlines which questions matter.