My thoughts on webquests...

After I found out how to create a webquest, I went to several sites to see various webquests that have already been created.  I can see the value in using them in the classroom, and not just for older students.  They can be very beneficial in the younger grades as well.  Allowing younger students to follow a webquest gives them confidence in their computer skills and the student may or may not realize they are learning while they are following links.  To me, this is very important because it is a way to reach students that may be too shy to participate in class, they can work at their own pace, and students are more willing to study subjects they may not be fond of just because it is on the internet.

I was talking with my niece who is in the 7th grade this year and hates science and math, but excels at other subjects.  She has used webquests in school in previous years, and I could tell when she was explaining what they studied that even though she says she hates science, she still remembers what she learned on the webquest several years later.  Teachers at my kids' school use them in the first grade.  I know my own children run straight to the computer when they get home from school if their assignment requires them to use the computer.  Seeing their excitement when they discover something new is enough to make me question why more teachers do not use them to teach many subjects.  I know they will take time to create from scratch, but there are already webquests created that cover a variety of subjects and can easily be modified to fit anyone's curriculum.  Maybe as technology is rolled out into schools more teachers will find the value in them, but I know I will definitely be using them in my future classroom!