Reading Three- WebQuest

After reading Tom March's article titled The learning Power of Webquests I was really able to gain some vital information about my understanding of exactly what the purpose of Webquests are, as well as how they are used. I learned that there are several advantages to using a Webquest as well as the possible improved learning aspects when using Webquests. One of the advantages that I learned from the article was that Webquests provide a scaffold learning structure to students. Meaning, that there is a framework that is established when using Webquest that allows students to complete tasks one a a time. Another learning situation that the Webquests provide to students is the ability to to locate a vast amount of information via the Internet. According to the article, this provides students with authentic tasks that ultimately motivate the students to learn. Webquests also allow teachers to ask students open-ended questions in which they can figure out the answer to using a certain Webquest that has been provided to them. The digital divide that is possible when using Webquests is that in general, people may not have access to computers to even begin a Webquest. Even if teachers may have Internet access, they may not have the knowledge that enables them to build Webquests for their own classrooms. Therefore, you could have students using Webquests in one or more classrooms and then you have those classrooms where the teacher may not even know how to implement a Webquest for his or her students. So that's really where this technology could get complicated in my opinion. A simple way to remedy that challenge would be to provide teachers with the trainings in order for them to be able to know how to use Webquests in their own classrooms, even it that is just as simple as showing teachers how to access other individuals Webquests that have already been posted on-line and are free to use with permission.

I definitely think that is a place for Webquests in the classroom. I think that Webquests can be incorporated into any subject area, making it very simple to teach a given standard/objective to students. I know that the Webquests are a new technology and as we know the 21st century learners are becoming more and more of a "digital" learner-type. The Webquests allow students to reflect upon their own thinking patterns. Furthermore, Webquests help students construct a deeper understanding through a learning-centered educational process. And right there, that word "process" I think is the key word associated with Webquests because in my opinion, that's what they are. The only concern I may have with using Webquests is that teachers can be leading their students to websites that are not current or perhaps websites that could contain fraudulent information. That is really my only concern with Webquests.

There are many types of classroom activities that could be enhanced by using Webquests. Since Webquests allow for teaching strategies that prompt students to ask questions, focus on using information rather than searching for it, and look at material critically I think that the activities that can be used in a Webquest is immense. There aren't just a few activities, there are several in my opinion. I think that Webquests are a great technology to use in the classroom and I will use them whenever possible within my own classroom this upcoming fall.