WebQuest
Objective:

Steps:
Understand the role of a Tutor in
online learning environments and how
that role fits with your public health
professional field..
Organization:

2. Analyzing information
Teams
Time:

10 hrs min divided in 5 – 8 days
Resource:

Computer, Access to digital libraries
and Internet sites.
3. Building a concept map
4. Discussing in groups
5. Sharing your concept map
Evaluation:

1. Consulting bibliography
Comparison list.
What is a WebQuest?
Dr. Bernie Dodge says that 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...".
A WebQuest is distinguished from other Internet-based research by three characteristics. First, it
is classroom-based. Second, it emphasizes higher-order thinking (such as analysis, creativity,
or criticism), rather than just acquiring information. And third, the teacher preselects the
sources, emphasizing the use of information rather than just information gathering.
There are five basic components in an average WebQuest
Introduction
Task
Process
Evaluation
Conclusion
Introduction
Many writers see the tutors’ support as critical for the educational process and the students´
learning experience. The importance of tutors’ support, when using a technology-based
learning environment has
many advantages: from practical ones, such as the reduction of
dropout rates, theoretical ones, such as mitigating student isolation, and moral ones such as the
obligation of helping students to succeed.
This implies that the support provided by e-tutors requires them to adopt several unique roles
depending on, for example, the epistemological framework and the tasks the learners have to
manage (e.g. individual or collaborative work). Different from a mere transmitter of knowledge,
the e-tutor becomes much more of a learning facilitator. Further, to design and animate an
online environment, additional staff or roles may also be necessary (Denis, 2003).
Therefore, it is necessary to discuss what is required in terms of e-tutor competencies for
specific e-tutor roles.
Task
Create a mind map listing the must important features of an e-tutor in the public health field.
You can follow these questions as guidelines:

What is the role of the tutor in virtual learning environments?

Which are the challenges a tutor will beat in this information society?

How does that role fit with your professional field in public health?
Process
Organization of
teams
•The facilitator will
designate the
teams.
Consulting
bibliography
•Links for you to
access and
consult
bibliographies:
•http://www.ascili
te.org.au/ajet/aje
t26/goold.html
•http://www.fastr
akconsulting.co.uk/t
actix/Features/tu
toring/tutor01.ht
m
•http://www.euro
dl.org/
•http://archive.elearningcentre.co
.uk/eclipse/Resou
rces/teach.htm#
•The facilitator will
suggest you
aditional Internet
Sites or readings
*Be careful to
look over the
relevant
information to do
your homework.
Analyzing
information
• Teams should
discuss the
following points:
•What is the role
of the tutor in
virtual learning
environments?
•Which are the
challenges a tutor
will beat in this
information
society?
•How does that
role fit with his or
her personal style
and professional
field in public
health?
•List 10 features of
an e-tutor.
Concept map
• Build a concept
map to explain
the previous
points .
•https://bubbl.us/
•http://www.mind
mup.com/
•http://www.mind
meister.com/es
•http://www.mind
omo.com/
Group presentation
•One of each
team, will upload
the concept map
and other, will be
prepared to
present it in a
Blackboard
Collaboration
Session.
Evaluation
Your tutor will evaluate each team by following the next comparison list:
Outcome to be evaluated: Concept map
Instructions: Place the students average scoring according to the established specifications. It is
necessary to include comments.
#
Characteristics of the Outcome.
%
Comments
The mind map is clear and wellorganized:
 The mind map is hierarchy
organized: going from general
to specific concepts.
1
 The topics and subtopics are
well organized and grouped
logically.
 The concepts are related and
have a logical flow.
Average: 50 %
The diagram has relevant information:
 It explains the most important
features of an e-tutor.
 It explains the competencies
that an e-tutor must have.
2
 It shows the most important
challenges a tutor has in the
information society.
 It shows how the role fits with
the public health field.
Average: 50 %
Conclusion
Each team will provide two paragraphs that summarize the topic and its experience by working
with the WebQuest methodology.