Webquests

Webquests are a fun way for students to get online and search for information on a given topic. When designed properly, a webquest will provide supporting documents that guide the students through the exploration of the topic and completing the required tasks. The site I like the most is Zunal. There are thousands of subjects that cover all ages and content areas.

Zunal ([|www.zunal.com]) webquests can be sorted by grade level or subject area. Chances are one is just right for the occasion!

To create your own, simply log into Zunal ([|www.zunal.com]) and it takes you through the process: 1. Create a title page 2. Prepare a one or two sentence overview of the webquest 3. The task the student will be completing (the goal) 4. The process they will use to complete the task 5. Evaluation is where a rubric is stored so the students will assess if they have met the standards set by their teacher 6. Conclusion page for you to sum up the activity. Here is a sample of one I made for integrating social studies and language arts: [|Who's the Boss?] Students had completed a novel study on Charlotte's Web and the teachers wanted the students to nominate a character for president. Through the webquest they learned about the hierarchy of government offices, the election process, and how communities are impacted by their leaders. Every page allows you to upload an image or document (like a checklist or form). //They recently updated the site to allow for You Tube videos to be uploaded and there is also a Quiz option if you want to assess from the activity.//

Zunal does not let you publish your webquest until all of the six steps are completed, which gives me confidence that other teachers will have there submitted webquests as complete as mine is.

Here is the link to my [|Rainforest Webquest]. It took me 30 minutes to layout, then an hour or so to type up, locate websites and upload photos. I used Rubistar to assist me in designing the rubric. I used a Super3 research model to draft the attached research document. Now it is there to be shared with my grade level, vertically among my campus, or throughout the district or world.

Here is a screen shot of the Zunal site:
 * [[image:karensclassroomideas/zunal.png width="660" height="250"]]