WebQuests Celebrate 10 Years: Have They Delivered?

Abstract: An action research study was conducted in a Northwest Georgia middle school to determine how a WebQuest promoted higher-level thinking skills of 21 students in a 7th-grade Computer Technology class. Student attitude toward the use of a Web Quest for learning academic content was also explored. In addition, the experiences of a teacher, as he used a WebQuest for instructional purposes, were identified. Data were gathered from teacher-made rubrics, student attitude surveys, a teacher journal, informal student interviews, and teacher observations. Findings indicated that the WebQuest promoted higher-level thinking skills through the presentation of sequenced learning activities, which scaffold knowledge and skills. Students appeared to enjoy the overall WebQuest experiences, but some students experienced frustrations due to inactive internet links and difficult reading and writing activities. The overall teacher experience was positive, because the WebQuest was found to be an effective instructional resource for most students. Some considerations for future WebQuest instructions for special education students were identified