Webquest有一个容易记住的奇特名字，名字后面则是那些我们能完全理解的事物。简单地说，Webquests是利用因特网资源的授课计划或者是课程单元。这是非常令人兴奋的，因为发展创造性课程是我们教师引以为豪的工作。
当然Webquest与一般的教案或者单元教案相比增加了一些复杂性。Webquest通过向学生提问一些本质性问题、提供进一步探索的机会、让孩子们在动手做的过程中应用他们的知识，从而努力让孩子在较高的水平上思考。
我们通过讨论Webquest的各个部分和每一部分的具体实例来进一步说明。
本质问题：
每一个Webquest的核心是一个开放性问题。这个问题设定了Webquest的清晰目标，鼓励学生回顾原先掌握的知识，激发学习者进一步探索的动机。
任务与步骤：
中小学生能否运用已有知识进行探索，进而在更高的水平上思考？Webquest的任务与步骤部分提供了一个“脚手架”引导学生经历体验专家的思维过程。“脚手架”意味着将令人望而生畏的项目计划打碎成若干个片段，让学生能够继续钻研相对单一的任务，引导他们通过研究中相对困难的步骤，从而能够运用他们的知识。
海量资源：
在一个Webquest中，老师创建一些到其他互联网站点的链接来共享网络资源。这些提供了有质量的、最新信息的在线资源具有不同的样式，如web站点、电子刊物、虚拟旅行、电子公告版、电子邮件。生动的图形和交互的特性引发学习者的注意、提升兴奋水平。通过运用多样化的互联网资源，一个Webquest为不同学习水平或不同学习方式的学生提供信息。有时，Webquest也向学生提供容易采用的离线资源，如儿童文学读物、电子光盘、杂志、实地考察、贵宾演讲……。常用的一种离线方式是提供参考书目。
注意：Webquest资源提供可以便捷存取的、有质量的信息。这让学习者较快地集中收集信息，学生进而能够分配更多的时间用于解释、分析信息。
动手做活动：
Webquest的焦点是要让学生应用他们的知识建设性解决真实的问题。Webquest的终极活动是提供更高水平的思维指南。这类终极包括创编好莱坞式的歌舞表演、通过电子邮件提交实地考察或动手做活动的报告，一直到学生制作他们自己的网页。
可靠的估价:
当使用Webquest问题，学生在更高水平进行思考的时候，老师有效估价学生活动的努力程度十分重要。很多Webquest用量规详细说明了教师如何评估学生的学习活动。这些量规也提供了学生和教师对他们学习的自我评估。
原文－－
What Are Webquests?
Webquests have a fancy name that is catchy but beneath the name there is something simple that we can all understand. Simply put, Webquests are a really good lesson plan or curriculum unit that utilizes resources from the Internet. That's really exciting because developing creative lessons are what us teachers are really great at.
O.K. , Webquests are just a little more complicated than a lesson plan or unit plan. Webquests strive to get kids thinking at a higher level by asking students an essential question, providing opportunities for kids to explore further, and then getting kids to apply their knowledge with a hands-on activity.
I will explain further by discussing each part of a Webquest and then providing an example of that part.
Esssential Question:
At the heart of every webquest is an open-ended question. The question creates a clear purpose for the webquest, inspires students to access prior knowledge, and creates a level of excitement that motivates students to explore further.
Stay on Task:
Can students in elementary and middle school think at a higher level where they not only research but apply their new knowledge? The Task Section of a Webquest provides a "scaffolding" to lead students through the kind of thinking process that more expert learners use. "Scaffolding" means breaking the daunting project into smaller pieces so students can work on specific sub-tasks that will lead them through the difficult steps of researching and then applying their knowledge.
Great Resources:
In a Webquest the teacher creates links to other Internet sites. I usually create a Hot List to share these resources. These Online Resources come in varying forms (web sites, online journals, virtual tours, message boards, and e-mail.) These sites provide quality, current information. Excitement is created with stimulating graphics and interactive features. By utilizing a variety of Internet resources a webquest provides information for all students- no matter their learning level or learning style. Also, webquests provide easy access to Offline Resources such as Children's literature, CD-ROM's, magazines, field trips, guest speakers... I usually use a bibliography to provide offline resources.
Note: Webquest Resources provide easy access to quality information. This allows students to no longer focus on gathering information. Now, students can spend more time interpreting and analyzing the information.
Hands-On Activity:
The focus of a webquest is to get students to apply their knowledge to constructively solve authentic problems. The culminating activity of a Webquest provides the guidelines for this higher level thinking. The culminating activity can range from creating a Hollywood Presentation, e-mailing an expert in the field, hands-on (offline) activity, to students creating their own web page.
Authentic Assessment:
When using a webquest, students are asked think at a higher level. It is important teachers effectively evaluate student's hard work. Many Webquests provide rubrics to clearly define how a student's work will be assessed. Rubrics also provide an opportunity for students and teachers to reflect on their learning.
2001年12月2日译文发布
网络地址：http://www.being.org.cn/webquest/whatarewebquests.htm
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