Learning can be an adventure! Task-based learning through WebQuests

If you are a language instructor, what could you do to make students understand and apply the words and expressions that relate to the topic? When I was a learner in my home country, the answer could be simple: show them, explain them and remember them. However, things could be different when it might start with some slightly more engaging questions, for example, "Do you want to plan for a journey?" or “What would you like to prepare for a birthday party?”

These, relatively, can be designed as what we called tasks during the class. That means students need to reach a real-life goal through working out a problem collaboratively. Meanwhile, task-based learning (TBL) exercises students' higher-order thinking as well as simple knowledge comprehension and use. They need to find reasons for their decisions, make a discussion, and finally come to an agreement.

Source from: Center for Teaching Vanderbilt University

In the era of information, students can get access to whatever they want through the Internet. So why not integrate technology into these tasks and make students explore the language by themselves? That is WebQuest, and it is defined as an inquiry-based format where all the information is pre-selected on the Internet by teachers. In this way, students can work collaboratively and think critically.

In this link, you can find many kinds of WebQuests: 

http://questgarden.com/

Now let's have a look at a specific WebQuest "An English Holiday", and begin to learn how to design a structured task for students! 

An overview and analysis of a WebQuest

Introduction

This should be the part that hooks students' attention and arouses their interest to explore the task or the question. We could see that the big title and the image of the scene can make a strong visual impact on students, which helps engage them directly to read the instructions below. And the task here is clear-cut about creating a travel brochure.

Task

Here, students can know what goals they are going to achieve and what kinds of output they are expected. The task provides a limited budget within the context of planning for a trip, which pushes students to negotiate with meaning. For example, they need to find the reason for their choices in terms of time and costs. Learners can also practise their writing skills in the process of making a brochure.

Process

This stage offers students step-by-step guidance to use the pre-selected online material and resources. Also, as group collaboration is emphasised within a task, it is important to set specific roles for each member. The process here is quite detailed, where each person has a clear division and the materials are separated based on their roles. Different titles (e.g. the history lover) help students focus on the task as well so that they will not be confused on what and why they are going to perform the task.

Evaluation

The evaluation should be clarified whether the individual, the whole group, or both will be assessed. It seems unclear in this WebQuest, but the Knowledge Gained part can be regarded as a group collaboration. The main focus of this assessment is on the output(brochure) itself, but I believe some more important aspects should be included:

- Whether their choices meet the standard of the given budget (maybe they should share how they reach an agreement on their decision)

- Each member should also be evaluated individually as they contribute to different parts of the brochure and the map

Conclusion

This part will tell the students what they have achieved at the end. This WebQuest also shows the link for further exploration and helps them review the topic.

Credits

Finally, we need to provide a list of images, audios, and videos they have used, and thanks for their contribution.

WebQuests and language learning- strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

-WebQuests can improve students' critical thinking skills. Students cannot find the answer directly in dictionaries or the Internet. Instead, they need to analyse the given resources and generate their own answers.

-WebQuests can promote group collaboration. Students work together for a common goal, and thus they need to negotiate and discuss different ideas. Each member is responsible for the whole group to achieve the goal.

Weaknesses

-WebQuests can be time-consuming. It can be a long process for teachers to explain the task, organise it during the class, and evaluate it in the presentation phase.

-WebQuests may not be suitable for low-level learners. They may have not fostered team spirit yet, and find it difficult to understand the instructions.

Finally, what do you think of WebQuests? Please comment below and see you in the next week!😏