Use Zunal for Zippy WebQuests

     The term "WebQuest" is often used as the catch-all phrase for students performing guided research on the Internet.  However, the proper term that should be used when students are simply researching for information using a list of links that the teacher has put together, is a "scavenger hunt", not a WebQuest.  A scavenger hunt requires students to "get" the information, while a WebQuest wants them "to do something" with this information. 
    

     A WebQuest is a much more involved "inquiry oriented" on-line research project developed by by tech-guru Bernie Dodge back in 1995.   A true webquest is made up of 6 essential components.  They include an Introduction, a Task, Processes, Resources, and Evaluation that the students refer to for guidance and instruction on the quest.  These components provide opportunities for students to use a variety of skills that align with many of the common core standards.    " A true, high-quality WebQuest is not simply a series of web-based experiences or an Internet scavenger hunt. By contrast, a real WebQuest will make good use of Internet-based resources, allowing teachers to present content in diverse formats and media and requiring students to engage in a learning activity modeled on a real-world task that requires them to research and use technology skills, then synthesize and analyze the information they have gathered. In the culminating project or writing assignment of a WebQuest, students are generally asked to persuade an audience or explain their point of view based on the specific evidence they have gathered through Internet-based inquiry.", http://criticalthinkingworks.com/?p=266, March 12, 2012.

Check out this VoiceThread on how you can use WebQuests to promote classroom inquiry. 

    

      OK.  So you are thinking, "Why is she writing about WebQuests, they are nothing new?!"  I know.  However, in the past creating a true WebQuest not only required you to have the skills needed to make an interactive document with web links, but also the ability or means to host it on the world wide web.  This piece of the project has been made easier with the development of actual WebQuest creator tools such as Zunal.   Zunal does all the work for you allowing even the novice WebQuest users the ability to create professional looking WebQuests in a snap.  For a FREE service, it provides a ton of features!  Here are a few: 

• Publish web-quests instantly to Zunal's portal for student access (can also be shared via a URL, email, or facebook).  
• Free account never expires 
• Unlimited number of files and images can be uploaded 
• Embed videos 
• Embed Voki and Glogster presentations

     Zunal also provides tools to make your WebQuests interactive with tables, an evaluation rubric, photo galleries, quizzes, map activities, hangman games, pre-test/post-tests, and more!!  Check this out...the most recent update to Zunal now makes it possible for multiple people to work on the same WebQuest using different accounts!!  This would be a great activity to do with your students.  You could have them work as partners or in teams to develop a WebQuest around a particular topic.    

  Here are a few different links to WebQuests that are available on Zunal to give you an idea of the finished product. 

A Trip Back in Time:  Early and Ancient Civilization (6-8)

Food From the Farm (K-2)

Cyber Bullying in the Media Age  (9-12)

Fractions, Fractions, and More (6-8)

1960's Flashback:  Into the World of an Outsider  (6-8)  

Vacation to Disney:  problem solving in real life situations. It uses higher level thinking, problem solving, and budgeting money.  (3-5)

La Familia (9-12)
Lets Take a Journey into the World of Beverly Cleary (K-2)

   Lastly, Zunal has a mobile friendly website making it easy to access from smart phones and idevices.  They are in the process of developing apps, but for now, you can use the mobile site:
www.m.zunal.com

Enjoy!