Group items tagged

Michelle Hill February 24, 2012 Overview: The purpose of this website is to serve as a resource for instruction for 1st grade internet activities. Therefore, the intended audience is teachers 1st graders and 1st grade teachers. Available on this website are English activities online involving skills such as story listening, letter recognition, literacy activities sight words, and sentence structure and grammar. Also included are Math activities such as number recognition, patterns/shapes, counting, adding/subtracting and much more! There is also unit themes available for teachers of all kinds. Content: The content of the website was rated as very useful for my information needs based on the fact that the total number of "yes" answers outnumbered the "no" answers. Some strengths of this website include the first look, how it was easy to determine the basic content of the site, the information quality, and the further information. The content of the site was well organized and easy to understand. Some weaknesses of this website are that information of the authors is not available, therefore I do not know if the authors are qualified to present information on the topic. Other weaknesses include that the content was not updated frequently, the last time being August 2007 and the fact that one link to another site was not working properly. Overall, there was an abundance of good content that will prove to be useful in 1st grade classrooms. Design: The design of the website was rated as very well designed and easy to use based on the fact that the total number of "yes" answers outnumbered the "no" answers. First, the homepage downloaded efficiently and the website was speedy, which was a good start to the design. Some strengths of the website include that it was well organized, the copyright date was easy to determine, the site is easy to move around, and the content was presented clearly. Some weaknesses include that there were no directions

Overview: National Geographic always has great information dealing with many different history or social studies events. I really like their website because the 5th grade students can navigate to this website and research a topic. The topics are straight forward and even have pictures to help the students understand what their reading about. I'm sure that if the students wanted to learn more about the topics they could research farther from this website. National Geographic has always been a key leader in what is new and coming up in social studies and other areas. Content: There are so many different topics and articles that the students can read I would highly recommend it to other teachers. You know exactly where the information comes from and if it wasn't true you know National Geographic wouldn't publish it. It is a very trusted source of information. A lot of the information on the website will change with new events. Design: As I was learning about the website I found myself wanting to read some of the articles that they offered. I stopped to read about the tattooed mummy and found it really interesting that it was a female but in the place where the mummy is from there was only male kings. Obviously if they can draw in a 19 year old college student with just a picture and a title the students shouldn't have a hard time finding something their interested in. The website has of course the yellow color scheme but also has other little pictures that offer some intriguing items. I'm probably going to read some more after I'm done with this!

Samantha Cook-10/11/2012 This site Materials for the study of Ancient Sparta is a very good sight. It is brief and to the point but also gives a range of information that is very useful in one place instead of looking at many different places. The information ranges from class notes to ancient texts like the Histories by Herodotus which is very high quality information. It gives good information for a scholarly student. For the site Materials for the study of Ancient Sparta it is very useful because it is more academic then a fun younger sight. The audience for this would then be upper level high school with more of an emphasis on college because of the use of sighting ancient texts. The resources available in this website range from ancient texts to basic known information to stories. MY overall impression of this right is it is very academic, not many pictures maybe one per page and not very colorful. It does not necessarily catch your eye what caught my eye was how for one organized it was; and two how much resourceful information was on there. This site gives you a very good brief overview of the Spartans without having to look a bunch of places. It would be very helpful to me

story creation in the cloud

The intended audience appears to be parents of middle school children, and the intended purpose is to try to explain why self confidence in middle school takes a hit. The article was written in 2010, and there is no evidence to suggest that the website has been updated since then. There is no information on the author, but she has written a lot of articles for this website. Unsure what her credentials are. The website provided a lot of good helpful information, but I would be hesitant to use it as an educational site, because there is not enough information about the author, and her expertise on the subject. The content of the article is about why students self esteem takes a hit in middle school. The author explains one way is bullying. She elaborates on the topic of why students are cruel during these years. She gets her information from a book written by an author with a PhD. This author is quoted many times, and the article is entirely based on this book. The problem is explained, then possible solutions for the victim students to stand up against their peers and build self-esteem. The author of the book is well educated, but that is all that is provided, and no information of the author of the article is provided. The website has some eye appeal, using bright colors such as pink to emphasize. The cover of the book the article is based on is provided. There are a lot of ads for other articles written on this website, and links to these articles both in and around the story. There are videos at the bottom of the page, explaining different articles and how-to's. There is also a comment section for readers to rate the page and write comments.

Overview: The National Geographic website is informational and entertaining it is Is full of startling photography and mind-expanding writing on space, the environment, animals, and even world music. Its purpose is to inform people on interesting news and events along with many entertaining stories and topics. Its intended audience is for anyone and everyone even a link for children. Content: There is so much content and information on this site. On the homepage there are top stories, videos, photos, and polls. There are tabs to photography, environment, travel, adventure, National Geographic TV, kids, and shop. There are also links to the magazine, news, animals, science, video, education, maps, games, music, blogs, movies, in the field, and a site index. When you access the site is easy to determine the content and intended audience. There is available information about the authors and researches for the different articles. The information is always constantly being updated and revised so nothing is out of date. The links also are easy to use and work properly. The information and content presented is not biased and achieves the intended purpose of informing and entertaining Design: The design of the National geographic website is very organized and easy to navigate through its many links of information. It is full of eye-catching photos and colorful links and tabs. It is easy to read and very understandable and accessible. The website downloads efficiently and the site is appealing and grabs tor attention. There is a site index and search box. The sites also provide copyright informational the provider is clearly identified. The links are clear and helpful and all the information including the photos videos and articles serve a clear purpose to the site.

This website is highly recommended in the world of educators. National Geographic is a well-known magazine. The purpose of the site is to make their information more accessible. When looking for an article for a science report this is a good site to go to. The audience for National Geographic is from 5-100; they have articles designed for young children but also sophisticated articles for a more mature audience. Also on this website if you wanted a hard copy of the magazine you could subscribe. My overall impression was very good. The content of the website is easy to maneuver around and find. Because National Geographic is a well-known magazine you know that the information presented is reliable and accurate. The website has access to games and videos to further explore the concepts.  As for design, it scores just as high as content. The homepage is appealing to look at and easy to use. When searching for a topic many articles come up giving many different perspectives one could choose from. The site has many colorful pictures that make your research more appealing to conduct.  Overall this website is very well designed and easy to use. 

Kayla Rider January 23, 2010 Overview This site, I believe, is a very resourceful website. It is for those intended audiences looking for more information on Queen Elizabeth 1. This would be useful for any history course involved with the years of which she reigned, or any Shakespearean class. I have used this site many times throughout my collegiate career. It has some great information within it and is easy to move around in. Content The content of this website is as I afore mentioned. It allows you the choice of U.K. or U.S. English to follow along to. It gives you a table of contents to divide the history and story of Queen Elizabeth 1. This website has a vast amount of information about her and does not get boring. It has a section about the author, giving her credit for this website, and also letting the readers know if she is credible, which she does seem to be. It allows you to e-mail her with questions in the About the Site link. Overall, I believe it is a credible and reliable source to venture to. Design The design of the website is very appealing. It catches your eye at the moment you log into it. However, it doesn't over power the content of the site either. It allows for pictures within the text to help you follow along with the times in which Queen Elizabeth ruled. Overall it is very appealing and informational.

Mandy Schumacher 1-24-10 Overview: creativewritingprompts.com is a website that is intended to provide teachers and students with hundreds of different writing ideas. There are over 300 prompts on the site and all of them are easily accessible. This site can be a very useful tool for educators, or anyone who enjoys writing. Content: This website is targeted at anyone who is interested in writing. Creativewriting.com provides the user with 346 different writing prompts. The prompts can be used to create poems, stories, or other creative works. The purpose of this site is not purely informational however; this particular website is also a commercial site. Along the side of the page there are ads promoting online courses, a journaling kit, other books, and there is a list of "sister websites" displayed on the bottom. Copyright and information about the author is easily accessible on the bottom of the site as well. Design: The site quickly downloaded to the homepage. The homepage is really easy to navigate. There are numbers assigned to each prompt. All the user has to do is place the cursor over any of the numbers for the prompt to pop up in a text box. The ads along the side and bottom of the page serve as a distraction but overall the site is easy to navigate and well organized. There are also links at the bottom of the page

Cole Baumann January 24, 2010 This website helps teachers understand more about learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADD. This is helpful in today's society as there is a very high probability that there will be a dyslexic student in their classroom and the teacher needs to help him/her learn in a way that the student can understand what is happening and help them retain the information the best way possible. There are stories of success throughout the website and journals from teachers who found a way to help the student who had a learning disability succeed in the class, all of which could help other teachers do the same. This web site feels like it is a large community of teachers coming together and trying to help each other succeed with the students who have learning disabilities. Suggestions abound for helping those students prevail without having to make them standout from the class, all within budget limitations. This website is a little bit more confusing than what I would like initially. But, after you explore it for a while, you start to understand and notice that it is actually quite easy to navigate. This website will help teachers learn more about learning disabilities and how to cope with them without drastically changing the students' learning. The pictures on the website seem old and outdated which makes the reader feel like maybe some of the information is outdated but that is the only downside I can see in this website. On the whole, is seems this site would be very helpful for any teacher This website is specifically for the teacher to help the students. It is not describing what dyslexia is and how to cope with it or what a learning disability is and how to cope with it. This site is saying that if you have the student with this learning disability these are ways to help them and make them successful in your class without making them feel too strange or too different from all the other students. This is very important as children wit

Sara Scribner 1/23/10 Overview: This website called Beeswax is meant for elementary students to inform them of current events in a fun, interactive way. It is a new website so the creators are still looking for feedback to improve the site, but it is a great tool for students to learn about current happenings in the world. Currently it is only updated twice a week, but for elementary students I believe this to be sufficient. Content: Information presented on this website is high quality. Its purpose, to present news, is clear, complete, easily understood, and is interactive. Contact and sponsor information are current and available. There might be potential bias on this site however because of its sponsor, Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The amount of information offered on this site is sufficient, but the teacher would need some background knowledge about the event. An advantage to this site is that it is free of advertisements. Design: Beeswax communicates the news in a fun, interactive way and is aided by graphics that you click on to see the related story. It has a unique organization that is effective yet appealing. Sounds also accompany your actions as you navigate the site.

Amanda Lamey January 23, 2010 Overview I chose this site because RosettaStone has seemed to help lots of individuals learn a second or third language. I was impressed when I came to this site. You can choose from a variety of languages, you can purchase packages or just one at a time. With each package it listed the price and a button for you to add it to your cart. They have a toll free number to call. There are videos of people who have used it and learned from it. I think this is a beneficial part in helping someone purchase this item. I know it would help me. I would want to know from experience whether a product is good enough to spend hundreds of dollars on. This website is designed for anyone, but limited to people with credit/debit cards. Any one person can learn a language with assistance and it has been proven that younger children learn quicker and faster than adults. They had a contact button for further information. It also had other available resources like case studies from a classroom, stories of individuals who had used it, videos of people who had purchased and used RosettaStone. It had different options to chose from like; Home school, Schools, Organizations and Personal. The purpose of this site is to let you explore multiple options and not limit you to one thing and one language, its open ended. I think it's a wonderful site and easy to use. I also think RosettaStone's product is expensive which is a downfall because as a college student I have enough bills and money concerns to worry about to where I can't just go spend three hundred dollars to learn a language on my own time. Evaluation of Design The overall evaluation of the design was accurate. It had useful information and sites to attend to gather further information. Instead of reading the material you would have to purchase it, but it showed what levels were for sale and for how much. It even had it available for different schools and organizations. It had a contact us box

David May 1/23/11 Good site for base knowledge. It has fun videos and animated activities. It needs more eye appeal. Overview: This website gives history a multimedia and fun twist. Within the simple design on the homepage it contains links to old educational videos, activities, and, movies based on historical events. The educational videos are from decades past such as the 1950s. The videos are accurate, but they leave out some facts such as Native Americans and women that are part of history. That is from the age of the videos. The activities are not really that entertaining at least the ones I used. They do capture one's attention because of the progressive story line and multimedia pictures and animations. These however do have some accurate information. I played around with the Boston tea party activity and the information included in the activity was accurate and explained it well. Overall the website is an okay way to spend some time getting base knowledge on history. The site shouldn't be used as a source though. Content: When first arriving at the homepage it is clear what the site contains. History can be seen with the various pictures and clickable items around the home page. Where the information came from is hard to determine there is so citing of material or authors listed. The site is not clearly marked with a sponsor, but there is clear evidence that it is connected to Amazon.com because in the store section it says powered by Amazon. The most recent update was made in November of 2010 which makes it seem active. The copyright at the bottom of the page is for 2009. The links section of the site send the user to not so credible sites and some links do not work. Informational is the main target of this site with a mix of business which is made clear by all the Amazon.com ads and links. Content seems to be good if base knowledge is already with the user making the information good for most uses except college level detail. Navigation is simple

Overview- This site provides relevant and educational news stories for both kids and teachers based on the selected subject. The content is put together from many sources and reviewed by members of the site. Credibility for some news sources is pretty questionable at times. Though, they still always site all information for all news stories provided. They even have a part of the site dedicated to teachers, but could not get into it because it takes a membership. Content- A lot of information on a variety of subjects solely designed to inform kids. The only problem with it is some of the news sources have questionable credibility. Also, they do not fully specify whom the person is writing the article. It would be a great way to inform kids on current events, but it is just hard to tell whether the information is accurate. Design- The design is pretty great. It has an easy to use format that allows kids to look for articles they are interested in with ease. It is very eye catching and just has a fun design that keeps you interested. Many images to go along with each article provided.

Megan Switzer September 11, 2011 Overview: Overall I was thoroughly impressed with the ESL lounge web site. The purpose of this website was to familiarize on with information about ESL through teacher's stories, guides, books etc. It also provided lesson plans as well as activities to do with students in your classroom depending on level whether beginner, intermediate and so on and so forth. The targeted audience of this website is mainly teachers, although there is a link which leads you to a site for students. ESL lounge for students provides children the opportunity to learn through activities, guides, exercises, anything that may be helpful in their learning of the English language. Multiple resources are available on this web site and are clearly labeled for easy accessibility. Overall this website is organized and clear with information that pertains not only to teachers, but also to students. This website seems like a good resource for those interested in learning about ESL. Content: The content of this website was extremely helpful as well as appealing. Not only did all of the links work, but the information was easy to navigate, understand and accurate. The date of when it was last revised seem to be current and although there did not seem to be any information providers such as an author, the information still seemed trustworthy, consistent and accurate. The way in which the information was organized was clear and easy to find the concepts one would most likely be looking for. Design: Overall the design of this web site was extremely satisfactory. It had an appeal to the eye, was easily understandable, it provided a helpful guide as well as was organized into sections. All links were up and working, the information was extremely helpful as well as relevant. Although I could not find a creator the information was up to date and helpful. Overall this was a site that was easy to navigate and the purpose of it shined through. If one has any que

Ideas for creating content related digital stories.

Organize and use collections of professional photos to help others write and tell stories

Kids and parents can explore and play learning games, read stories, and get printables for Clifford, I SPY, Magic School Bus, and more.

The purpose of the site it to give students more information on the Angle-Saxon morals and beliefs during the time of Beowulf, mainly about the heroes. The audience the site will be used on is 11th grade, but can be used by anyone how can read and understand Beowulf. The site uses quotes from Beowulf as well as other Anglo-Saxon stories, allowing the audience to know there are more works similar to Beowulf. The site is simple with a constant font used throughout. The links to other parts of the site are all lined up at the bottom, but do not really assist further in the Anglo-Saxon topic. The authors, who are also the sponsors, are stated clearly but no contact info is given. Design wise the site is monotone, wallpaper like background dragged throughout. It does not seem to assist with the topic, just a method in order to not have a plain white background.