WebQuests

Initially my thoughts about the WebQuests is that it had to do with the web when I saw the word web, but after this topic, I have realized it is beyond just using websites. I have started to discover it's power in leading to meaningful learning. I like it's stages of how to go through the whole topic. And when it addresses the introduction part of a topic, it makes me pause a bit and ponder on the way I have been introducing my topics to the learners. Has my introduction always caused the learners interest to arise or?

Now what is WebQuest?
Is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. (Dodge, 1995)

A real WebQuest is a scaffolded learning structure that uses links to essential resources on the World Wide Web and an authentic task to motivate students’ investigation of an open-ended question, development of individual expertise, and participation in a group process that transforms newly acquired information into a more sophisticated understanding. The best WebQuests inspire students to see richer thematic relationships, to contribute to the real world of learning, and to reflect on their own meta-cognitive processes. Let us examine these powerful strategies more closely.

All WebQuests, however, have the following attributes:

Web Quest do they promote the 21st century skills? Oh yes,  In that sense, use of web Quests  leads to  a systematic teaching and learning model that engages students in learning knowledge and skills from a series of complex tasks including: design and planning, problem solving, decision making, product and artifact creation, and the communication of results.