Why Should Teachers Use WebQuests?
WebQuests use a constructivist approach (Lamb, 2004, p. 38) that allows for opportunities for integrating technology. WebQuests use higher order thinking skills, cooperative learning, and authentic problems. WebQuest also are a wonderful way to motivate learners. (March, 1998). Therefore, WebQuests are excellent tools to use in the classroom. Furthermore, WebQuests incorporate Robert Gagne's Theory of Instruction, which shows a "relationships between, the methods of instruction, their effects on the learning processes, and the learning outcomes that are produced," (Sandars, 2005, p. 213).
WebQuests use higher level thinking skills. Some of the higher level thinking skills that are used while completing a WebQuest are synthesis, application, evaluation, and analysis. Using the higher level thinking skills allow the students to make connections and create new schema (March, 1998). A WebQuest can even be used for differentiation if it is used correctly (Lamb, 2004, p.39).
WebQuests utilizes cooperative learning. The students should be assigned to work in small groups, and each member of the group should be assigned a particular role (March, 1998). In an article "Why WebQuests?," written by Tom March, he states that "as students complete more WebQuests they will become increasingly aware that their individual work has a direct impact on the intelligence of their group's final product," (1998).
WebQuests motivate students. Student motivation increases with the use of WebQuests due to the realistic sources used, which includes up-to-date articles and databases, access to experts, and accumulation of different perspectives on the same topic. Cooperative learning also contributes to the motivation of the learners. Often times students are motivated because of the real world authentic problems they must research with a WebQuest (March, 1998).
It is important to note that a WebQuest should not be taught and used in isolation. It should be connected to the curriculum and other activities that are taught in the classroom (March, 1998). A WebQuest is designed as a method to integrate technology, but technology use should not be the sole purpose of the WebQuest.