On the value of webquests.

As a Teacher Librarian, I've always considered creating and using Web Quests as a very relevant extension of my duties. A library houses many sources of information much like the internet. Unlike the Internet, however, a library has order and quality control.
The Internet has often been described as the world's largest library with all of the books on the floor. This image evokes the frustration students must feel when trying to sort through the results of a keyword search generated by a search engine. The use of webquests allows the educator to control what resources a student may access and ensures they are relevant, appropriate and readable.
This is not a new idea, it is just a new format. Teacher Librarians have been performing this service for years. A student needs to conduct research on a topic and the librarian helps the student find a book in which he/she can find the answers to their questions. Providing links to relevant websites on a given research topic is precisely the same function wrapped in a new package.
Personally, I find webquests to be most effective when they require the use of a combination of electronic and print resources. This allows the students to compare, contrast, synthesize and corroborate information, all skills vital for navigating their way through the age of information.

Susan Moroz, Vice-Principal, Teacher-Librarian, Forest Glade Public School