Dear FLE 304 members,
What do you think of the extent of applicability of the webquests to the teaching of EFL reading in Turkey? In what ways do you think the use of webquests can enhance the quality of the teaching of EFL reading? What do you think are the potential drawbacks related to this technique?
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I think the use of webquests has some advantages for both the teachers and the learners. I mean, thanks to webquests, the learners can study or learn a topic when they are motivated very well. And the students who are shy while speaking in front of people participate in lesson by using webquests. For a teacher, it provides variety of materials which may get the students' attention and interest especially with visual elements. Of course there are some disadvantages, also. For instance, it is difficult to prepare a page which is interesting for all of the students. and also, you should use materials which requires the students to think critically and comment on.
ReplyDeleteUsing webquests in EFL teaching in Turkey seems difficult because if they are to be applied in schools, there should be large computer labs in the schools. However most of the schools don’t even have a computer lab. If they are to be used at home by the students, most of the students don’t have a computer at their houses.
ReplyDeleteWebquests have many advantages. For instance, since they are based on ideas of inquiry and constructivism, they develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills of the students. By directing students to think critically and analyze the information that is given to them before accepting it, they prevent parrot-fashion that has been used in Turkish education system for ages. In this way the students will learn to read a text by questioning it and this technique will provide them with a better understanding of the text. Besides if the students use webquests successfully they can easily find answers to the questions like “How can the main character solve this problem?” or “What kind of a solution can you offer to this character?” or “What types of precautions can be taken to prevent global warming?” because they will gain critical thinking skills with the help of webquests. Another benefit is that webquests incorporate cooperative and collaborative learning because mostly students work in groups. In this way the students will read the materials by exchanging information with their group members and they will be exposed to different perspectives. They can also learn some reading strategies from their friends. Webquests have some benefits also for teachers. For example it decreases the teachers’ workload because while working with webquests the teachers are not the main source of new information. This means a great relief for teachers because they don’t have much to do; they only work with students as coaches.
Webquests have some drawbacks as well. For instance some students may have difficulty in this inquiry based technique. Webquests require students have a certain level of reading ability, unless the teacher is careful to find highly visual sites or has an adult available who is willing to read the screens to the students. This means that for the students who are at a low proficiency level in reading, webquest can’t be applied easily. We can conclude that webquests are not suitable for all levels of proficiency; they are applicable mostly to the students from a higher level of proficiency.
I believe that its effectiveness is unquestionable. But its applicability is disputable. As we dont have necessary information how to use world wide web students could not do effective searching. But if enoguh education is given to them then I think there will not be any problem about this topic. Also our phsyical conditions for computers and its laborataries are not enoguh, each child doesnt have his or her own computer in his or her house and does not have this facility because of financial problems so we can describe this situation like this: ' It is a dream that we want very much but at the same time, a dream that is too hard to be carried out.'
ReplyDeletein our time for teachers it is the best which is the most easiet way in Turkey. If I consider it as a Turkish teacher it is not a good way to make students involved in such a webguest environment because it is hard to prepare such an environment for a student and hard to prepare for teacher due to the fact that it is time consuming. anyway when it comes to EFL learners it is a chance to improve themselves. they can easily interact with each other, correct themselves, practice, make extensive works according to their gap, also have fun. this may be an important chance for shy students.
ReplyDeleteI think webquest is a technique which supports modernist educational views in its body. In other words, due to the activities it offers us, students start to improve their critical thinking and creativity. Additionaly, their language skills are triggered.
ReplyDeleteIt is benefcial in such aspects that it draws students attention easily and makes teachers job easier. While students are using technology, they also improve their language and their problem solving skills. However, of course these highly demanding tasks require certain level of English proficiency; therefore, it is more appropriate for higher-leveled learners.
If I am asked whether this technique can be applied in Turkish educational system or not, my answer will be 'no',unfortunately. Because schools are not equipped technologicaly enough and each and every students do not have internet access, the technique will not work in Turkey with classic education system.
I think webquests are useful. Nowadays many people deal with internet and make search on the web. We use it to learn many things. So that using webquest technique many many things can be learned. We can motivate our students to use it if we have enough time and material. Unfortunately it seems that turkey does not ready to achive to use this technique effectively. Because as my friends mentioned before there many schools which do not have even the most basic vital materials needed. Apart from th schools, many students are so poor that they cannot buy books or pencils. So we cannot expect them to have computers and use webquest. On the other hand, if there are well orginized environment with the chance of using them, this technique is a good one. The students can use their time effectively, interact with each other. So that it would encourage learning and self-expression.
ReplyDeleteI think webquests can be really useful. However, as a supporter of the idea that the best material and method that you can use is you, yourself; I believe that use of webquests is directly related teacher quality. Say you have got a very good oppotunities in our school; but you are not qualified enough to use them. Or worse, think about the teachers in Turkey; they are looking forward to a prolonged bayram holiday. Can you apply any kind of efficial English Language Teaching method to any classroom? Webquests are very good materials, but it can be very much tiring for our already-tired Turkish teachers.
ReplyDeleteWeb quests seem to be good but it has some drawbacks, too. Internet is a beneficial thing to use. We learn and search many things via it but it is not safe either. It is not fully safe and not fully reliable. This web quest technique improves critical thinking, selectiveness, language and computer literacy but these things are also what are needed in order to use it efficiently. In internet there is too much information, students must be selective and select the right thing. They should also be critical about what to search, where to search and how to search. They should have basic computer skills. Obtaining this does not seem easy but when the prerequisites are dealt with, with the proper filtering and source check whether it is reliable or not, web quest may help.
ReplyDeleteWebquests are of course useful. It develops critical thinking and requires collaborating,which is enjoyable and more beneficial than individual work. However, it is so time-comsuming for the teachers. It takes so much time to get sources,to categorize them, to select the information which is suitable for teaching and to find the material which attracts all the students' interests. Even if teacher overcomes these difficulties, physical conditions aren't suitable for this method in Turkey. Some schools don't have even one computer and there aren't computers in student's houses. So, it is not applicable for Turkey, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteı think webquests are useful for both students and teachers. it is benefical for teachers, because it decreases the teachers’ workload because while working with webquests the teachers are not the main source of new information. but is could require for them to organize them. it is really necessary and benefical for stidents, ı think. because, students will be more interested instead of working on their own. web quest technique improves critical thinking and working collaborately. it could also develop their language. it students can use it, they would also be more self confident, because it helps them to realize themselves, especiaaly for shy students.so webquests are benefical and they could be used, but in turkey it could be hard to applyin every school because of the technological lacks.
ReplyDeleteWeb quests are beneficial in many ways. They can take students attention and students will like to work with them. They make students think critically and develop their language skills. It can also be beneficial for shy students to express themselves as it would be easier to express them in internet environment. It can be difficult to use web quests in classes in Turkey, because a lot of classes do not have technological devices. A lot of students don’t have their computers also which make the usage of web quests difficult at the moment.
ReplyDeleteWebquest can be a very beneficial tool if it is used effectively. They are good in that students can work collaboratively and share their ideas freely with the help of this tool. However, there are some drawbacks. First of all the instructions have to be very clear so that the students don't have difficulty in understanding what to do. Also every subject isn't suitable for webquests, for instance when the questions don't require comments they may not be useful as the answers won't show any difference. If the subjects is suitable for the students and the instructions are clear, they can be very useful. Shy students may have a chance to express their ideas, which may not be possible for them in a classroom environment. I also want to mention that feedback is very important. Feedbacks have to be constructive on the other hand students may not want to use webquests and do not feel free to talk about their own ideas and try to write things, which the teacher will like. Critical thinking is an ability students need to have and the webquests really serve this idea as the students need to analyze the information given to them, but the workload of the students should be taken into consideration before giving the students assignments or else the students may not benefit much from the blogs.
ReplyDeleteWe all know that technology plays an important role in our lives. Webquest is a good tool to study for students and also teachers. Students also enjoy and love it. I believe that it may improve students' language skills and also it can be used by teachers.
ReplyDelete