Published May 20, 2020 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Disadvantages of Using Webquests in Junior High School English Classes in Iran

Creators

  • 1. English Department, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
  • 2. PNU University, Isfahan Branch, Isfahan, Iran

Description

Webquest is an Internet-based learning and teaching tool, within which is a process involving students and teachers to use it for educational purposes. As an educational tool, the webquest has gained popularity in the education field across subjects and settings and is generally well-received by both teachers and students. Many junior high school English teachers use webquests to support modern teaching methods to improve students’ instructions and learning processes in new opportunities of using webquest resources in English classes, as well. This study aimed at investigating the advantages and disadvantages of using webquests in Iranian junior high school English classes. This study also examined the application of webquests to motivate high school English teachers to teach more efficiently and provided the learners with a wonderful situation to learn English well. The present descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2019 in four cities of Isfahan Province, Iran. The participants included 16 Iranian English teachers chosen based on the stratified random sampling method from junior high schools. The questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data and the participants’ insights about the advantages and disadvantages of using webquests in their English classes. Many English teachers considered webquests helpful and believed that it could help students do duties better and that the teachers could teach English more effectively and meaningfully. Webquest resources, likewise, help teachers work in groups and share ideas associated with the school curriculum.

Notes

www.jcsll.gta.org.uk

Files

Mahdi Amini .pdf

Files (598.9 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:fcc58cfe9c9c3e91d0837b3a76e373cd
598.9 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Related works

Documents
Journal article: 10.2525/jcsll.v.1n.1.2020 P.47 (DOI)

References

  • Barack, L. (2005). Webquest Blossoms. School Library Journal. 51 (9). 26. Cancannon, F., Flynn, A., & Campbell, M., (2005). What Campus-Based Students Think about the Quality and Benefits of E-Learning. British Journal of Educational Technology. 36 (3). 501-512. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00482.x, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00482.x. Claudia, M., Steil, A., & Todesco, J. (2004). Factors Influencing the Adoption of the Internet as a Teaching Tool at Foreign Language Schools. Computers & Education. 42 (4). 353-374. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2003.08.007, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2003.08.007. Dodge, B. (1995). Webquests: A Technique for Internet-Based Learning. The Distance Educator. 1 (1). 10-13. Dodge, B. (1995). Some Thoughts about WebQuests. San Diego: University of San Diego. https://www.scirp.org/(S(351jmbntvnsjt1aadkposzje))/reference/ReferencesPapers.aspx?ReferenceID=652651 Dodge, B. (2001). FOCUS: Five Rules for Writing a Great Webquest. Learning & Leading with Technology. 28 (8). 6-9. Hermans, R., Tondeur, J., Van Braak, J., & Valcke, M. (2008). The Impact of Primary School Teachers' Educational Beliefs on the Classroom Use of Computers. Computers & Education. 51 (4). 1499-1509. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2008.02.001, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2008.02.001. Klein, C. (2006). Virtual Charter Schools and Home Schooling. New York: Cambria Press. https://books.google.com/books?id=khO6zSXqzosC&dq Lim, C. P., Teo, Y. H., Wong, P., Khine, M. S., Chai, C. S., & Divaharan, S. (2003). Creating a Conducive Learning Environment for the Effective Integration of ICT: Classroom Management Issues. Journal of Interactive Learning Research. 14 (4). 405-423. Lipscomb, G. (2003). "I Guess It Was Pretty Fun" Using Webquests in The Middle School Classroom. The Clearing House. 76 (3). 152-155. doi:10.1080/00098650309601993, https://doi.org/10.1080/00098650309601993. Laborda, JG. (2009). Using Webquests for Oral Communication in English as a Foreign Language for Tourism. Educational Technology & Society. 12 (1). 258–270. Lou, M. (2010). An Experimental Study on Webquest in Promoting Non-English Majors' Learner Autonomy. Journal of Heilongjiang College of Education. 29 (4). 148-150. Mahdizadeh, H., Biemans, H., & Mulder, M. (2008). Determining Factors of the Use of E-Learning Environments by University Teachers. Computers & Education. 51 (1). 142-154. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2007.04.004, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2007.04.004. March, T. (1998), Why webquests? An introduction Webquest for Learning Web-site. [Online] Available: https://tommarch.com/writings/why-webquests/ (April 20, 1998) March, T. (2004). The learning powers of Webquests. Educational Leadership. 61 (4). 42-47. Orme, M. P., & Monroe, E. E. (2005). The Nature of Discourse as Students Collaborate on a Mathematics WebQuest. Computers in the Schools. 22 (1-2). doi:10.1300/J025v22n01_12, https://doi.org/10.1300/J025v22n01_12. Oliver, D. (2010). The Effect and Value A Webquest Activity on Weather in 5th Grade Classroom. Ann Arbor: ProQuest Dissertation Publishing. Perkins, R., & McKnight M. L. (2005). Teachers' Attitudes Toward WebQuests as a Method of Teaching. Computers in the Schools. 22 (1). 123-133. doi:10.1300/J025v22n01_11, https://doi.org/10.1300/J025v22n01_11. Salehi, H., & Asgari, M. (2018). Impact of Using Web-quests on Learning Vocabulary by Iranian Pre-university Students. International Journal of Foreign Language Teaching and Research. 6 (22). 33-46. http://jfl.iaun.ac.ir/article_601179.html. Salehi, H., Asgari, M., & Amini, M. (2015). Merits and Demerits of Using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Tools in Iranian Junior High School English Classes. The Journal of Global Academic Institute Education & Social Sciences. 1 (2). 140-150. https://www.globalacademicinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/jgaiess_vol_1_no_2.pdf Sen, A., & Neufeld, S. (2006). In Pursuit of Alternatives in EFL Methodology: Webquests. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology. 5 (1). Starr, L. (2000), Meet Bernie the Frank L. Ioyd Wright of Learning Environments. [Online] Available: https://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/chat015.shtml (February 2, 2012) Sunal, C., & Haas, M. (2010). Social Studies for the Elementary and Middle Grades: A Constructivist Approach. (4th ed.). Amsterdam: Pearson, https://books.google.nl/books/about/Social_Studies_for_the_Elementary_and_Mi.html?id=6O4SQgAACAAJ&redir_esc=y VanFossen, P. J. (2005). Student and Teacher Perceptions of the Webquest Model in Social Studies: A Preliminary Study. Paper Presented at the College and University Faculty Assembly at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting in Kansas City, MO. November 17, 2005. Yoder, M. B. (1999). The Student Webquest: A Productive and Thought-Provoking Use of the Internet. Learning and Leading with Technology. 26 (7). 6-9. Yunus, M. M., Salehi, H., & Amini, M. (2016). Impact of Using CALL on Iranian EFL Learners' Vocabulary Knowledge. English Language Teaching. 9 (1). doi:10.5539/elt.v9n1p173, http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/view/55692. Yunus, M. M., Salehi, H., Amini, M., Shojaee, M., & Fei W. Y. (2016). Activities and Suggestions for Using Social Networking in Teaching ESL Writing. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Information Technology. 84 (2). 170-182. http://www.jatit.org/volumes/Vol84No2/3Vol84No2.pdf