Project Based Learning (PBL) and Webquest: New Dimensions in Achieving Learner Autonomy in a Class at Tertiary Level

Now a day, the buzz word for a language classroom is "learner autonomy" that is defined differently by different experts. The fundamental of learner autonomy, however, is to involve the learning in the teaching and learning process. The term "webquest" is also a new concept to the teachers in this part of the world. A webquest is an internet based module designed by an instructor that presents a task with predefined process, resources and a rubric for the learners to undertake the tasks step by step and at the end they self-assess their performance based on the rubric provided in the module. This paper explores the possibility of implementing such a task that makes use of technology (i.e. a webquest) where the learners need to explore the resources by themselves' write down a paper based on their reading and the piece of writing is assessed by the learner her/himself based on a rubric provided. The research shows that when the learners are given autonomy in the classroom, their learning boosts up and their performance curve also rises.