I’ve called 2010 the “year of volatility” for stocks, as we’ve been witness to some huge price swings in the market during the past dozen months. This year, however, the market also could be called the “year of the ETF.” According to market-tracking firm Strategic Insight, assets in U.S.-based ETFs are rising at a pace that likely will eclipse the $1 trillion mark sometime in the first quarter of 2011.

Already through November, U.S. ETF assets reached a record $940.5 billion, according to Strategic Insight. That number is staggering. It shows that ETFs, indeed, have become the go-to investment vehicle in the industry for not just individual investors, but also increasingly for professional managers seeking the same low-cost, transparent properties offered by ETFs.

Of course, not all ETFs are created equal. In 2010, it’s been a year of extremes for various sectors. There have been some huge, winning ETFs, and some almost equally big losers. Let’s take a look here at a table of the 10 best ETFs of the year (data as of 12/14/10).

As you can see, leveraged silver and gold funds, along with Internet and small-cap funds, topped the winner’s list in 2010. The question now is whether the big gains in precious metals, Internet stocks and small-cap equities will continue in 2011.

Now, let’s look at the 10 worst-performing ETFs of the year.

As you can see, this 2010 “hall of shame” is populated by funds betting against the surge in metals and small caps. There also are some big losers who bet against real estate, as well as the emerging markets of China and Latin America.

So, will last year’s winners be next year’s losers, and vice versa? I don’t think things will be that clear cut; however, I do think that the ETFs that led the market higher this year will not be the same ones that lead the market higher in 2011.

The trick going forward is to find those ETFs that will lead the charge higher in 2011. This is easier said than done, I grant you, but ultimately, accomplishing this task should be every investor’s goal in the coming year.