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Saturday, June 28, 2014

New Idea for Web Quest

Let me start with a disclaimer: I am not affiliated with Smore.com nor have I collaborated with anyone from Smore.com.  This post was created because I love using the website with my students.

When I started using technology in my classroom I was determined that it was not going to be used for playing. As I look back over the past year I realize I really did not have a clue what students could accomplish by using technology.  I initially starting thinking what apps or tools can students use, and quickly switched to thinking what apps can students use to create and show what they are learning.  I wanted to ensure the tech was being used for learning.  How was I going to create a learning environment that would engage students and be easily managed?

Although Google Drive has been a fantastic (can't live without) solution that worked well for our classroom, another great resource was www.smore.com. Smore is a website that allows users to create web based flyers.  These flyers are great to use for project based learning activities.  The flyers are very simple and fast to create and can easily be shared with students.  The flyers can include activities, videos, web links, rubrics, or quizzes.  Different kinds of flyers can be created and educators can create an unlimited number of these flyers.

Why would I want to make a flyer for my students? I use it for project based learning activities. During the past year I created several educational flyers at Smore.com for my students.  The flyers included step by step instructions to complete a project, similar to a web quest.  Some of these projects were completed with a partner in our classroom and some were completed with students in another building within our district.  These flyers are easy to use and make it possible for students to collaborate on projects with students around the world.


A project in Smore.com is very easy to make.  You can:
  • create text
  • add a picture
  • embed a link
  • include audio
  • embed a video
  • include a form (for assessment)
  • link to a rubric

I LOVE Smore because I can include everything from standards in kid friendly terms to assessments and rubrics right on the flyer.  There are so many possibilities.  I've included a social studies project below that was created at Smore.com



After the flyers are created at Smore.com you can easily share them by:
  • email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
My students do not have email access but they all have Google accounts.  I usually share a link to the flyer in their drive or create a quick QR code for the students to scan.

Another plus...if I change my mind on an activity or need to correct something, I simply login to my account, make the changes, and the changes will automatically be made when my students go to the flyer.  I also love the possibility of reflecting on a lesson and making the changes right after the lesson instead of waiting until the next year and trying to remember. I'm too old for that.

I challenge you to give www.smore.com a try.  You will find it is easy, quick, and fun.

Have you thought a way you could use Smore.com in your classroom? Leave a comment or example below.  My readers would love to read them.

3 comments:

  1. Great idea-- I think I will try to make a Smore for my new teachers!

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  2. Thank you for showing me the smore site way back in December. It completely changed the way that I delivered information to my students. I used it for my enrichment unit this summer and the students loved having access to the videos and pictures for our art project. I have made numerous flyers and I know I will continue to use them (and modify them) in the future! In some ways, this web based service has the ability to take the place of powerpoint and other presentation software because of how easy it is to change/modify the content and how interactive it is. I rarely make traditional presentations because of software like this.
    Great post!!

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  3. I love these ideas! Thank you for sharing. Do you have each student create their own account or do they work within the teacher account? If they use the teacher account, how do you accomplish this in the classroom? Thank you for any help and guidance.

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