WebQuests Social Studies middle ages europe discovery learning inquiry-based project-based information literacy research visual literacy media literacy technology literacy role play technology blog mind map google doc mindmeister podcast esprat+g historical novel ubd web 2.0 21st century skills nets
According to WebQuest.org, a WebQuest is "an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that
learners work with comes from the web". Bernie Dodge from San Diego State University is the person most identified with creating and promoting this instructional strategy/tool. I would add that a WebQuest takes students up Bloom's Taxonomy to the highest levels where they analyze, synthesize and create new knowledge and understanding with their projects. It is these projects that the students often working in teams playing specific roles create to share their understanding.
WebQuests can range in length from a lesson taking a few classroom periods to being a full curriculum unit as this Middle Ages one is. A WebQuest is NOT an Internet scavenger hunt where the students gather information and give it back to teachers.