shahadalnazzawi: The role of WeQuests in learning a foreign/second language?”

Bernie Dodge, the original designer, describes a webquest as "an inquiry-oriented activity in which most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the Web. WebQuests are designed to use learners' time well, to focus on using information rather than looking for it, and to support learners' thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation."A webquest typically includes the following elements: An Introduction, a presentation of the Task, a list of Resources, a step-by-step description of the Process, a form or rubric for Evaluation, and a Conclusion that summarizes what students have learned. WebQuests were designed to bring together the most effective instructional practices into one integrated student activity which emphasizes critical thinking, constructivism, cooperative learning, authentic assessment, and technology integration. It's critical in the early stages of WebQuest development that you stack the decks in favor of your own success. You need to identify a topic that is worth your spending time on and one that takes advantage of the Web and the WebQuest format. 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.Project-based learning is at the heart of WebQuests

Finally, the structure of the webquest is a terrific organizational tool for most students. All the requirements are laid out from the beginning.Students who is using webquests they must use their thinking abilities. Because they are required to compare, contrast, make decisions and recommendations. They cannot lean on a quick cut and paste for their answers.

In my opinion we as Students learn through discovery and synthesis with a quest. (if structured properly) This higher level of thinking is what we are striving for all of us to achieve.