Annotated Web Resource List

Evaluating Web Resources

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/WebsiteEvaluation/


http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html



http://www.literacymatters.org/content/research/evaluate.htm


I chose the last one for evaluating my websites.

Criteria
Listed below are key criteria and questions to consider before sending students to any web site.

Navigation, Appearance, and Accessibility: Can students move around the web site with ease? Is locating resources and materials straightforward? Are materials easily accessible? Is the text easy to read? Are the graphics decipherable? Do the links work?

Accuracy and Currency: Is the web site reliable? Is the information complete? Is it error-free? Can the information be validated by other sites? Is the information up-to-date?

Authority, Objectivity, and Credibility: Who are the authors or publishers of the site? Are they recognized experts in their field or on the topic? Does the company, institution, publisher, or organization have a credible reputation? Is the information biased in any way? Is the site trying to persuade or influence the audience in any way? Is the site a .com, .gov, .edu, .net, or .org? What does this tell you about the site's driving force(s)?

Content Appropriateness: Who is the intended audience? Is the content age- and subject-appropriate for your students? Is the language understandable for your students? How well does the content meet the needs of your lesson plan?

Interactivity: In what ways can students interact with the site? What
type(s) of communication does it provide, if any, i.e., peer collaboration or expert volunteers? What type(s) of learning activities does it offer?

Easy Classroom Management: Will your students use the web site individually or in groups? How much instruction will you need to provide?

Minimal Commercialism: Does the site contain advertisements? What types? How much consumer-driven content is contained on the web site?

Web resource list:

1. Search engine: www.tattoodle.com This meets the criteria listed above.

2. Primary resource: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/index.jsp
Excellent for teachers, parents and students. I really like this website.
It meets all six criteria for being a good web site. I think that Scholastic has a really good reputation and therefore creates Credibility for the site.

3. Oregon Education Department: http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/real/tlr/default.aspx

An excellent resource for lessons plans, using the Oregon content standards.
It meets criterias 1, in Navigation, Appearance, and Assessibility. It meets Criteria 2, with being accurate and current. It meets criteria 3 in that it's a government ran site and that leads to it being a credible site. It meets criteria 4, in that it is geared to a specific audience- teachers. I don't think it meets criterias 4 and 5 as in it isn't really a site for students. It does meet the 6th criteria for not having advertisements.

4. Professional Resource: NSTA
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/search.aspx?action=browse&gradelevel=k4

Great for science resources and free materials.
It meets criteria 1, 2, 3 in that it is a .org site, 4, and 6. This site is also aimed at teachers.

5. Multimedia:
www.mathmatics.com

Fun interactive website that is great for the white board.
This web site turned out to a big advertisement for other web sites. I clicked on a link for flashcards and it directed me to places I could purchase flashcards, such as Target. I don't think this site met any of the criterias.

6. Free Worksheets, quizzes, games and online practice on math, grammar, phonics, handwriting, word search, language arts, social studies and geography for preschool to middle school.
http://www.softschools.com/
This site was easy to navigate through and engaging. It meets the first five criteria, but not the sixth, in that it has a lot of advertisements.

7. Free monthly songs and printables to download. Free lyrics that teach & motivate your students. Over 5,000 songs for subjects across the curriculum: Math, Phonics, Social Studies, Spanish, French, ESL-EFL-ESOL, Science, Character Ed, Grammar, Special Ed...
http://www.songsforteaching.com/
Fun web site that I can really see myself using for a lot of subjects. It met criterias 1, 2, 3,and 4, but not 5 and 6 because it is site teachers use for a resource,

8. Math is fun. Math website with free resources, puzzles, games, worksheets and simple explanations.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/
Good site for students to navigate through and play games and puzzles. It meets all six criteria.

9. Website: Education World
http://www.education-world.com/

Description: All subject areas. Many options and links. Grades K-8
Worksheets available for copying. Brain teasers and games are especially good for math. Hints and solutions provided.
This web site has too many advertisements and the layout is messy. I would say that it meets criteria 4 only. It is geared to a specific audience, teachers.

10.Website: Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

Description: Designed for children. Includes a pictionary, foreign language dictionaries, puzzles, games, activities, crafts, as well as information. Designed to develop creativity in children.
This is a really nicely done site. It meets all the criterias.

11. Website: Kid’s Search Engine
http://www.yahooligans.com/

This is an excellent site for kids AND teachers. The school bell section has many suggestions for teaching ideas and learning. There is a section to look up info on authors and books. There is a list of all holidays found on the calendar and sites to go to. There is a kid’s almanac.
This site can be used for research for both teachers and students. Good for all ages levels.
Still agree that this is an excellent site. I think students would really like to explore this site. It meets all the criteria.

12.Website: Ask Jeeves for Kids
http://www.ajkids.com/

Description: Ask any question, and this site will provide you with an answer from science to social studies to any academic area.
You can use this site if you are on any unit in the elementary classroom. Since the questions may elicit a complex response, the teacher may have to either clarify some points or advise the students to ignore the part of the explanation that is not understandable. For example, if you ask the program, " Why is the sky blue?" you may get more explanation than you would require. Pictures also accompany the explanations.
This is another site that on the surface looks really good, but then when you click on links, it turns out to be just another advertising site. The links take you to different web sites. It meets none of the criteria.

13. Website: Fun Brain
http://www.funbrain.com/

DESCRIPTION: Interactive educational games categorized by age (6 and under, 7-10, 11-15, 15 and up). Each game has a brief description and level of difficulty.
Elementary – all areas of curriculum
I had fun playing on this site. They have Mad Libs, which I remember from when I was kid. Great fun! I think the site meets all the criteria, expect maybe the credibility one. I don't know how well known this site or its creators are.

14.WEB SITE: Kids Domain
http://www.kidsdomain.com/

DESCRIPTION: This was another excellent site. There was plenty of information for children, parents and educators. There were crafts, recipes and activities.
IMPLEMENTATION: Primary grades
I've used this site quite a bit. It is fun and a great resource for a variety of things. It meets the criterias 1 to 5, but not 6. It has annoying advertisements on it.

15. WEB SITE: Awesome Authors
http://www.jps.net/hatzi/awesomeauthors.htm#D

DESCRIPTION: Excellent description of books by famous authors. Biography, pictures of authors are also given. Many selected activities using the books-puzzles, games, word finds can be printed for classroom use.
IMPLEMENTATION: Excellent for all grade levels Kindergarten-high school.
The link no longer worked for this site. Therefore, it can not meet any of the criteria.

16. WEB SITE: www.crayola.com
I just discovered this web site and really like it. It meets all six criterias.