A Useful Teaching and Learning Tool Called WebQuest

          I voted for WebQuest to be the most difficult assignment in IT 648 (Telecommunications in Educations) class. The difficulty I refer to is not from using the Google Sites or other WebQuest providers to create a WebQuest. However, the difficulty I refer to is from designing a good WebQuest. I have no doubt that WebQuest is a very powerful teaching and learning tool. WebQuest provides structure for students not only to learn class concepts, but also how to use the Internet in a constructive way. A well-designed WebQuest will transform both teachers and students in their WebQuest journey.

          To be honest, it took me awhile to digest the WebQuest reading materials. I spent time reflecting on what the WebQuest is, which subjects in Fashion Merchandising are best fit to use WebQuest as a teaching and learning, how I can use WebQuest in my own class, and what the best way to design the WebQuest that will appropriate with students’ learning styles and learning levels. In addition to reading materials, I searched for several WebQuest examples for my fields by using keywords such as textiles, fashion, and merchandising; however I could not find any example. I believe this was resulted from my limited knowledge on WebQuest.

          While watching YouTube video on Webquest provided by Dr. Yuen, I found a very useful page called WebQuest Design Pattern from www.webquest.org.  This web page “list of patterns derived from existing WebQuests that are instructionally solid”. These patterns are organized by different tasks teachers what students to accomplish from the WebQuests. There are five different task categories: 1) Design Tasks, 2) Decision Tasks, 3) Creative Tasks, 4) Analysis Tasks, and 5) Prediction Tasks. I went through each category and realized that I could design a WebQuest for my friend who teaches Art Appreciation.

          I had a great experience designing WebQuest for my friend. We named it "Art Appreciation WebQuest". She plans to use our Webquest for her class in the second half of this summer. We are very excited to see what her student reactions to this teaching and learning tool. We also plan to keep working on this WebQuest since now it only has 6 journeys and covers only half of her semester.

          Below are my reflections of my learning experience through designing Webquest for others:

1.  I learned that planning and communication are critical.  It is important to have clear communication with your teammate, especially when you are not an expert in that area. Also, similarly to web design, planning is significant. I found out that Webquest design and layout help both of us understand each other better 
2. Organization is also very vital.  Each WebQuest journey is similar to a stepping stone for students to cumulate knowledge in order to accomplish the goals of Webquest. 
3.  It is important to always keep the students' actual skills and knowledge in mind. Tasks must be matched to the students’ competencies, while still being challenging enough to keep students' interest.

          In conclusion, I have learned a great deal from designing WebQuest even though it was for others. I hope that I can one day design a WebQuest for my own class; although I couldn't come up with ideas to design my own class Webquest now. Anyway, I have become a fan for WebQuest though I voted for WebQuest to be one of the most difficulty assignments for IT 648. I plan to introduce the WebQuest idea to my coworker who teaches Introduction to Fashion Merchandising and Seminar in Fashion Merchandising. She might be interested to design a Taxonomy WebQuest for either of her classes. I also plan to introduce the WebQuest to high school teachers who teach Fashion Merchandising and Interior Design. They may consider becoming a co-designer for their class WebQuests with me.