Skip to main content

WebQuests: From an Inquiry-Oriented Instruction to the Connectivist Approach to Science Teaching for the 21st Century Learners

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
The Impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Engineering Education (ICL 2019)

Abstract

The present study focuses on the use of WebQuests as an instructive method. The study explores the extent to which WebQuests can be used as an instructive tool to enhance learners’ attitude towards science concepts learning and boost student creativity, decision making, initiative taking and engagement in the lesson. WebQuests were implemented in primary and secondary schools and students’ WebQuests were evaluated. For the purposes of the study, focus group discussions with 19 randomly selected primary and secondary education teachers with 74 science topics WebQuests implemented by 446 learners altogether and with 16 learners respectively were conducted as research tools. The findings indicate a positive attitude towards science learning, especially for “difficult to comprehend” or “less familiar” topics, as well as enthusiasm and interest on behalf of both learners and teachers. However, concerns are being reported regarding curricula flexibility to allow WebQuests implementation more often.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Wagman, J.: The effects of an inquiry-Internet research project on motivation, self-efficacy, and academic autonomy in heterogeneously grouped high school Latin I students, Ph.D. thesis, Capella University (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dodge, B.: WebQuests: a technique for Internet-based learing. Distance Educator 1(2), 10–13 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  3. March, T.: Why webquests? An introduction. WebQuest for Learning Web site. Accessed 2 Mar 2019. http://tommarch.com/writings/why-webquests/

  4. Amer, A., El-Okda, M.: Using WebQuests in teaching and learning English. In: Language Centre 6th Annual Conference: Language Learning in the Cyber Age: Innovations and Challenges, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Vanguri, P.R., Sunal, C.S., Wilson, E.K., Wright, V.H.: WebQuests in social studies education. J. Interact. Online Learn. 3(2), 1–11 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kundu, R., Bain, C.: Webquests: utilizing technology in a constructivist manner to facilitate meaningful preservice learning. Art Educ. 59(2), 6–11 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Wolf, R.: Defining the concept of creativity. Thesis submitted as part of the Master’s Degree in Psychology, University of Twente, Netherlands (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Curry, M.J., Hanauer, D.I.: Language, Literacy, and Learning in STEM education. Research Methods and Perspectives from Applied Linguistics. John Benjamins, Amsterdam (2014)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Andonovska-Trajkovska, D., Cvetkova, B.: WebQuest as a teaching strategy. Teach. Int. J. 5, 15–22 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kiss, T.: Using WebQuests to educate gifted learners. In: Teo, P., Tay, M.Y., Ho, C. (eds.) Exploring New Frontiers: Challenging students in the Language and Literature classroom, pp. 30–51. Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd., Singapore (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Abbitt, J., Ophus, J.D.: What we know about the impacts of WebQuests: a review of research. AACE J. 16, 1–20 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Laborda, J.G.: Using Webquests for oral communication in English as a foreign language for Tourism Studies. Educ. Technol. Soc. 12(1), 258–270 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Siemens, G.: Connectivism: a learning theory for the digital age. Int. J. Instr. Technol. Distance Learn. 2, 3–10 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gaskill, M., McNulty, A., Brooks, D.W.: Learning from WebQuests. J. Sci. Educ. Technol. 15(2), 133–136 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Dimitriades, S.: Learning Theories and Educational Software. Association of Greek Academic Libraries, Athens (2015). http://hdl.handle.net/11419/3397

  16. Sitti, S., Sopeerak, S., Sompong, N.: Development of instructional model based on connectivism learning theory to enhance problem-solving skill in ICT for daily life of higher education students. Proc. Soc. Behav. Sci. 103, 315–322 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Janlert, L.E., Stolterman, E.: The meaning of interactivity – some proposals for definitions and measures. Hum. Comput. Interact. 32, 103–138 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Mechant, P., Van Looy, J.: Interactivity. In: Ryan, M.L., Emerson, L., Robertson, B. (eds.) The Johns Hopkins Guide to Digital Media, pp. 205–302, Baltimore (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dodge, B.: WebQuest evaluation criteria (2004). Accessed 2 Sept 2017. https://webquest.org/search/index.php

  20. A Rubric for Evaluating Web Quests. Accessed 18 Apr 2019. https://www.utm.edu/staff/mspaulding/311/Webquest%20Evaluation.html

  21. OECD: Trends Shaping Education, 21 January 2019

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Charilaos Tsichouridis , Marianthi Batsila , Dennis Vavougios or Anastasios Tsihouridis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Tsichouridis, C., Batsila, M., Vavougios, D., Tsihouridis, A. (2020). WebQuests: From an Inquiry-Oriented Instruction to the Connectivist Approach to Science Teaching for the 21st Century Learners. In: Auer, M., Hortsch, H., Sethakul, P. (eds) The Impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Engineering Education. ICL 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1134. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40274-7_40

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics