Teacher Module 05.2
Designing Web Quests
Objective
To create an interactive Web Quest about a topic related to physical activity or physical
education.
National Standards for Beginning Physical Education Teachers
*Standard 1 Content Knowledge. Understand physical education content and disciplinary
concepts related to the development of a physically educated person.
*Standard 5 Communication. Use knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media
communication techniques to enhance learning and engagement in physical education settings.
Materials
*Computer workstations
*Internet connectivity
Discussion Question
What is a Web Quest?
Overview
This module introduces the basics of creating a Web Quest. You will be using a free online
program called Teach-nology to help you construct your first Web Quest. You can save your
Web Quest as an HTML file and then enhance it by using an HTML-editing program such as
Microsoft FrontPage, Microsoft Word, or Adobe Dreamweaver. The following steps will get you
started in creating a meaningful and effective Web Quest for your students.
Directions
1. Prior to beginning this module, choose a topic that will be of interest to your target audience
and visit a variety of Web sites to determine whether they would be useful for linking to your
Web Quest.
2. Visit the following URLs to see Web Quests created by other teachers to get some ideas for
your own. These Web Quests are available online for anyone to use.
*www.ashlandschools.org/mark_sherbow/pbl2-9/smoking.html
*http://technoteacher.com/WebQuests/index.htm
*www.geocities.com/whatastich/WebQuestAbstinence.html
*http://horizon.nmsu.edu/kids/webquests/
3. Visit the following URL: http://teachers.teach-nology.com/web_tools/web_quest/ to begin the
creation of your Web Quest.
4. Begin by entering the introductory information in the Heading and Title section. Try to
develop a catchy title for the Web Quest because it helps to capture student interest.
5. Select a picture from the gallery that connects with your topic. If there are no interesting
images, try the Microsoft online design gallery.
Teacher Module 05.2 Designing Web Quests
From Physical Education Technology Playbook by Darla M. Castelli and Leah Holland Fiorentino, 2008,
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
1
6. Continue with the main content of the Web Quest assignment by creating an introduction for
students. The introduction provides background information to begin the process of inquiry.
7. State the task for students. In most cases, a single driving question is posed that requires
students to analyze a vast array of information. For example, why are some people more
motivated to be physically active than others?
8. Develop the actual process the students will engage in. In this section, provide step-by-step
instructions leading the students through the task(s). Offer advice on how to manage time and
collect data, and provide strategies for working in group situations.
9. Place the resources you organized earlier into the template. Here students are provided with
Web sites, background information, or tools that can help them complete the task. For this to be
valuable, you must thoroughly review each resource.
10. Design the evaluation criteria that you will use. The outcome for Web Quests is usually a
product—in most cases, a written or oral report or multimedia presentation.
11. Prepare a format in which the students can reflect on the experience. Effective Web Quests
have a built-in mechanism for student reflection. To receive feedback, you can survey your
students about their experience or invite them to send you e-mails sharing their thoughts.
Teacher Certification Extension
Write a lesson plan describing how the Web Quest will be integrated into a physical education
lesson or unit of study.
Non–Teacher Certification Extension
In narrative form, describe how you could use a Web Quest in your present or future
employment. For example, how could a Web Quest be used to instruct participants in a lifetime
fitness program, sport team, or rehabilitation situation?
Assessment Criteria
1. Used a creative Web Quest name and a thoughtful driving question that is age appropriate for
the specified audience.
2. Created well-organized and thoughtful learning activities.
3. Made a careful, criterion-based selection of current, or working, links, resources, and
evaluation criteria.
4. Effectively planned the integration of the Web Quest into the lesson or unit of study.Made a
careful, criterion-based selection of current, or working, links, resources, and evaluation criteria.
Teacher Module 05.2 Designing Web Quests
From Physical Education Technology Playbook by Darla M. Castelli and Leah Holland Fiorentino, 2008,
Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
2