WebQuests are an exciting and valuable teaching tool. A well-planned WebQuest has guidance for students, a creative end project with room for flexibility, and links that help answer questions and positively add to the project. A strong WebQuest is designed for students to work independently, allowing the teacher to be a facilitator in students' learning rather than the sole dispenser of knowledge.
WebQuests also have the the adaptive dimension, the ability to make adjustments in educational programs to accommodate students' diverse learning needs. They are the therefore a wonderful way of capturing students' imagination and allowing them to explore in a guided, meaningful manner.
Communication, group work, problem solving, and critical and creative thinking skills are becoming far more important in today's world than having students memorize predetermined content. This is an emphasis of the 21st century skills which are designed to effectively integrate our learners into the contemporary global village as they grow in our different education systems. WebQuests play a key role in this regard.
The CCTI course emphasises integration of technology into teaching and learning and I am deeply convicted to believe that WebQuests go a long way in seeing this to pass. The learner applies her/himself to make learning take place over an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. This constructivist approach to learning, is a super learning tool that engages the learner from start to finish allowing her/him to build knowledge with her/his peers and subsequently share it in very innovative ways.
I have therefore built my own WebQuest and highly recommend this approach to learning.
I agree with you when you say that WebQuests promote 21st Century skills like communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the comment
ReplyDeleteHallo Edward, yes webquests are better than having students memorize predetermined content.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Edward. We should have students on board from the start of the lesson to the end. WebQuests do just that.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post Edward.
Good observations Edward
ReplyDelete