"...A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet...”

-Bernie Dodge, 1995

Why Do WebQuests?
WebQuests promote the following thinking and evaluation skills: organization, comparing, classifying, analysis, strategic thinking, induction, deduction, reflection, abstraction, and argumentation.

What Do WebQuests Do?
A WebQuest clearly identifies a suitable problem, connects the problem to authentic experience, organizes information around the problem, and places responsibility on the student for solving the problem.

How Are WebQuests Conducted?
In its pure form envisioned by Bernie Dodge and Tom March of San Diego State University, a WebQuest is a six-step process which guides student learning.

The Task outlines what the student will do or produce by the end of the WebQuest
The Process identifies steps for solving problem, suggests possible strategies or guidelines, and helps define roles for students
Resources are specific materials, usually or predominantly Web-based, that are available to students to solve a problem
Evaluation measures student results and assesses the work products
In the Conclusion, one summarizes results and considers other related activities
In Reflection and Introspection, WebQuests call on students to draw generalizations

What Are the Characteristics of a Good WebQuest?
A good WebQuest uses specific and appropriate resources, focuses on a precise task, targets information necessary to solve problem, authentically interacts with problem and resources, assigns students responsibility for their own work, generates possible solutions, employs collaboration to resolve challenges, engages in analytical processes, and arrives at solutions in oral, written or multimedia format.

References
For information about WebQuests, visit http://webquest.sdsu.edu/materials.htm and http://home.earthlink.net/~cfairey/VSTE/home.html