WebQuests
Next course dates: 01 February 2009 - 02 March 2009
Term: 30 hours over 4 weeks
Fee: € 435

Future course dates:
01 May 2009 - 30 May 2009
20 November 2009 - 20 December 2009

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CONTENT
The WebQuests course examines the theory and practice of WebQuests, and looks at real examples of WebQuests created for language learners.  Participants review and develop their Internet search skills and website evaluation skills, both key to effective WebQuest design. Participants design, plan and create their own WebQuest, for use in their own teaching context with their own learners, and put their WebQuest online using free WebQuest generator tools. See our WebQuest repository for WebQuests (in pdf format) produced by participants on our past courses!

AUDIENCE
The course is aimed at all teachers of English and/or other languages worldwide, who would like to learn about and develop, WebQuests. WebQuests are a relatively easy way for teachers to introduce web-based activities with their learners in the classroom.

[ find out where our course participants come from with our participant map... ]

TIMETABLE
Our course runs over a period of 4 weeks, with a total of about 30 hours work. You are expected to spend approx. 7- 8 hours per week on online individual, pair and collaborative group work, including offline reading and reflection. Some tasks are optional, but the minimum compulsory course content takes about 30 hours to complete. Deadlines for task completion are weekly, and you can log on at any point during the week to work on the course. There are no 'fixed' times to be online - apart from regular timetabled online text and voice chats - these are negotiated to suit everyone. You will receive a detailed study timetable to help you organise your workload effectively once you have enrolled on the course.

OBJECTIVES
During the course, you will:

• become familiar with the main stages of a WebQuest
• explore the learning theory behind WebQuests
• develop your current Internet search skills
• develop your website evaluation skills, and build up a bank of useful and recommended websites for your learners
• explore a range of WebQuests especially developed for language learners
• design, plan and create your own WebQuest, for use in your own teaching context with your own learners
• put your WebQuest online using free ‘WebQuest generator’ tools
• learn to effectively use the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Moodle as a course participant
• experience text and voice chat as a classroom tool

COURSE STRUCTURE
You will follow the course entirely online in Moodle, working closely with a tutor in collaborative groups which use individual, pair, small group and whole group work. Throughout the course you are in constant contact with course colleagues and tutor(s).

• WEEK 1: Introduction: the theory and practice of WebQuests
• WEEK 2: WebQuests and search techniques
• WEEK 3: WebQuests; design and planning
• WEEK 4: WebQuests: production and sharing

SKILLS
The course is taught entirely online, using the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) Moodle. You won’t need any prior experience or knowledge of online learning, although basic experience of email and Internet use would be helpful. Technical and pedagogical support is available for the entire duration of the course.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Competence in written and spoken English, whether English is the applicants’ first, second or foreign language: successful applicants’ levels of competence in English must be of a standard sufficient to enable them to fully understand and complete the course work.

WHAT YOU NEED

• An Internet connection, preferably broadband
• A headset (best is with a USB connection) or stand-alone microphone and speakers
• A webcam is optional
• An up-to-date browser
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• An up-to-date media player (e.g. Windows Media Player or similar)
• A word processing package (e.g. Microsoft Word or similar)

You will use our video conferencing platform at least once during the course; before taking part  in the first session, we advise you to run the online system check here to ensure that you can take part fully in the session.

CERTIFICATION
The Consultants-E will issue participants with a Certificate on successful completion of the course. Successful completion of the course is defined as completing 80% of the course work, and completion of the final lesson design, to an acceptable standard.

ENROLMENT/FEES
You can enrol online by following this link. The course fee covers all chats and tutorials, guest speaker sessions (where appropriate), evaluation of final project work and certification from The Consultants-E.