title: WebQuests: creating engaging, student-centered, constructivist learning activities.
abstract: Students entering health professions educational programs today have grown up and grown older in an unparalleled age of computers and connectivity. Yet most of these students face challenges in applying their information technology and information literacy abilities because most of them have never received formal training, have only a limited understanding of the tools they use, and underuse those tools. WebQuests are a unique method for enhancing students' information technology and information literacy competencies. As inquiry-oriented, engaging, and student-centered activities, WebQuests promote high-level thinking and problem-solving skills. Although WebQuests are used extensively in primary and secondary educational institutions, they have received limited attention in higher education settings. The authors describe the history of WebQuests and, using examples from a series of WebQuests used in an undergraduate informatics for healthcare course, offer specific guidelines for developing relevant WebQuests for nursing education.
authors.affiliation: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Nursing, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. crussell@utmem.edu
authors.forename: Cynthia K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Jacqueline R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Burchum
authors.forename: Wendy M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Likes
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: J Carolyn
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Britt
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adymy
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cowan
mesh_terms: D004496:Education, Continuing; D004517:Education, Professional / Q000379:methods*; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning