WebQuests were used as instructional tools in two preservice teacher education courses: (a) an elementary science methods course and (b) an elementary literacy methods course that focuses on teaching literacy to children in the intermediate grades. Included here are the WebQuests that were developed by the instructors of these courses and several samples of WebQuests created by the preservice teachers in each of the courses.

Literacy Methods Course: "Teaching Language Arts in the Intermediate Grades"

• WebQuest developed by the instructor:
  • Balanced Literacy in the Primary Grades [doc] [pdf]
• Sample WebQuests created by students:
  • Comprehension [doc] [pdf]
  • Webquest for Writing [doc] [pdf]

Science Methods Course: "Teaching Science in the Elementary School"

• WebQuest developed by the instructor:
  • How Do I Teach Science to Children? [doc] [pdf]
• Sample WebQuests created by students:
  • Avalanches, Floods, and Mudslides: Causes, Damages, and Prevention [doc] [pdf]
  • Flash, Crash, Boom: How Does Lightning Work? [doc] [pdf]
  • Shocking the Community [doc] [pdf]
  • Volcano Exploration [doc] [pdf]

   

For more information about the use of WebQuests in these methods courses, please refer to the following references:

• Draper, R.J., Smith, L.K., & Sabey, B.L. (2004). Supporting change in teacher education: Using technology as a tool to enhance problem-based learning. In N. Wentworth, R. Earle, & M.L. Connell (Eds.), Integrating Information technology into the teacher education curriculum: Process and products of change (pp. 25-42). New York: The Haworth Press.
• Draper, R.J., Smith, L.K., & Sabey, B.L. (2004). Supporting change in teacher education: Using technology as a tool to enhance problem-based learning. Computers in the Schools, 21(1/2), 25-42.
• Smith, L.K., Draper, R.J., & Sabey, B.L. (in press). The promise of technology to confront dilemmas in teacher education: The use of WebQuests in problem-based methods courses. Journal of Computing in Teacher Education.