The value of a webquest in the classroom is found in the way it impacts learning for students. Within the context of a webquest, students take on many different roles and practice a number of high-value skills. First, their roles- Students must have the ability to juggle research collection, analysis, synthesis, and presentation throughout the course of an effective and properly planned webquest. Each of these parts has unique and lasting importance in education. Many webquests are created with groups in mind, and here students are able to take on certain roles or specific areas of concentration. In many webquests, students are actually asked to take on professional roles that they can acquire knowledge of. Teachers and students may decide these roles based on the strengths and weaknesses of each individual. (Example found here.) Other webquests may require students to act as historical figures, political leaders or celebrities.
The skills each student can or will acquire are closely linked to the roles they will play. Any way you slice it they will be gathering a diverse set of experiences and working through diverse parts of an activity. Along the way, they will be exposed to the impact of education-based technology in the form of research, web browsing and creating results use web-based or software-based programming.
Looking for more value? For student engagement, webquests deliver value better than any fast food joint's esteemed dollar menu. (ok, one exception: McDonald's chocolate chip cookies--hidden gems) You'll find that even students who resist the most hands-on, fun project are willing to take a peek at what a webquest might have in store. Somehow googling attracts our students a tad more than the school library's dusty editions of Britannica.
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