Strategy 5: Webquest Comprehension Guide
What is a Webquest Comprehension Guide?
I have selected readings on different websites that will teach students about buying a vehicle. The information will all come from an on-line resource and is meant to teach students how to find information on the Internet and analyze it for reliability and usefulness.
Why does this strategy work?
This strategy is a web based inquiry related lesson designed to make good use of the Internet while learning about noteworthy concepts.
This strategy is a way to encourage active reading with a purpose.
How does this strategy work?Students use computers and the Internet to answer questions prepared by the teacher.
Students navigate from site to site seeking different information on each site.
Students then compile their answers to the questions and determine whether they gathered the correct information from acceptable sources.
What does this strategy look like?
I first ask the students to write down on a blank piece of paper the name a car that they would like to own at some point in the future. The car can be practical (Honda) or not so practical (Lamborghini).
Question: What kind (make, model and year) of car would you like to drive at some point in time in the
future?
Students will then put the pieces of paper in a bag and each student will pick from the bag a piece of paper with a car name on it. They will then research this car. I have them exchange cars because I want to point out the bias we may hold when choosing high-priced items to buy.
Question: What is the make, model, and year of the car you are researching?
Students are then directed to the car makers website. For example, those who chose a Honda will go to www.honda.com.
Question: What is the company website that advertises this car?
Question: Do you trust this site, why or why not?
Question: What are the key features of the car?
Question: What are some concerns of the vehicle?
Students are then directed to go to a non-biased website, such as www.edmunds.com, to get some background information on the vehicle?
Question: Does the information found on this site address the concerns that were brought up in the
previous section?
Students are then directed to navigate to www.bluebook.com to get the financial information on the vehicle.
Question: How much is the value of this vehicle?
Question: How much are vehicles in the same class of car?
Question: Does your car's price rank somewhere within the prices of the other cars? In other words,
does it make sense to buy this car or another car in the same class?
Students will then choose from three insurance carriers, and navigate to that carriers site.
Question: What company will you use for insurance?
Question: What are the quotes from each insurance company? Are they comparable to one another?
Why or why not?
Students will then come up with a conclusion that they will share with the rest of the class.
Question: Should your classmate purchase this car? Why or why not?
