Web Quests
Firstly, you should know that there are different ways to use the web to supplement your courses. Some of these ways can be found on a website by Packard-Bell. This site, called Filamentality, is hosted by Packard-Bell for educators, and they offer a hosting/building service which allows you to easily create your own web-based activities on their site without having to know how to edit your web pages.
This page has been specifically developed with Web Quests in mind. Basically, a WebQuest presents student groups with a challenging task, a controversial issue, or a complex problem. It's best to choose aspects of a topic that are under dispute or that at least offer a couple different perspectives. Current events, controversial social and environmental topics work well. Also anything that requires evaluation will evoke a variety of interpretations. The emphasis in Web Quest design is on higher order thinking. This type of activity requires students to not only use the web for resources, but to synthesize what they find there.
The reason the Web is so critical is because it offers the breadth of perspectives and viewpoints that are usually needed to construct meaning on complex topics. Students benefit from being linked to a wide variety of Web resources so that they can explore and make sense of the issues involved in the challenge.
Logistically, all students begin by learning some common background knowledge, then divide into groups. In the groups each student or pair of students have a particular role, task, or perspective to master. They effectively become experts on one aspect of a topic. When the roles come together, students must synthesize their learning by completing a summarizing act.
So, here are the resources that I have gathered so far.
Additional Materials