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Danielle Walter 9/5/11 Storyplace: The Chldren's Digital Library Overview: The Storyplace.org website is a great educational website for both English speaking students and Spanish speaking students. Or it also can be used for helping a child learn English or Spanish. The website has activities for pre-school age children and also for elementary age children. It offers an online reading, an activity, a take home activity and also a reading list so children can explore other books. The website is a great resource for teachers and parents to help children be excited about reading. Content: The Storyplace.org website is easy to navigate for children and adults. It is also set up nicely. It has the grade levels on the left side and when you click on one it comes up with a menu of the reading and activities. This is a great website for helping children learn how to read and to become excited about reading, but it is also great for teaching children how to navigate the web and to show them how useful it can be in learning. Design: The Storyplace.org website has very bold colors that are eye catching. It's also easy to navigate. It is a .org website so I would trust it to be a good website for my children or students to be on. It also contains the copyright on the page so it is even more trusted.

Lauren McDaniel, 9/4/11 Overview:  This website would be useful for people with a sturdy knowledge base wanting to know anything having to do with the field of philosophy.  Teachers and future teachers would find the website especially useful because it provides biographies of philosophers that have contributed to educational philosophies, and explores detailed concepts, arguments and analysis of the many different educational philosophies. Content:  Information on the editor, supporters of the site, and copyright date are clearly present and can easily be found when navigating the site.  The content is updated regularly, which can be seen by clicking on the different tables of contents listed by the year they were published.  The formality of the page shows its purpose is very informational.  By clicking on the table of contents and finding the subject interested in, which is listed in alphabetical order, one can easily find whatever they're looking for.  Information is presented in a factual way, lacking bias or prejudice, and certainly seems to be accurate because of the supporters backing it.  Information is easily accessible by locating the table of contents, which presents a page looking similar to a dictionary.  Words, people, places, and other things can be clicked on, and a plethora of information is presented in an organized and clear way. Design:  The design of this website is very formal, and the pictures fit the formality.  When first arriving on the website, it is incredibly appealing because of it's organization and neatness.  The table of contents is only one click away, and is incredibly easy to navigate.  The links associated with the information presented are useful and all working properly.  This site is very well designed and definitely worth visiting.

Overview: This website is a good website for teachers who need fun and creative ideas for many different activities and lesson for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners. The last time this webpage was updated was in 2010, this is fairly recent, since that is within the last year. There are a variety of activities, games, quizzes, and many printouts. The intended audience is teachers who are looking for ideas. I love this website. It was easy to navigate and gave me a ton of great ideas and printouts I can use. Content: This website is full of links, all of which work, that lead to many different types of content from letters and numbers to animals to coloring pages. Within each of these sub-headings there are many activities and ideas to use for the children in your class. Each section and sub-sections are clearly defined and have pictures that correspond. The last update was last year, this seems to be a while ago, but since material for pre-k does not change drastically in a year, it is still up to date. There is not any information on the author, so that is lacking, but overall the content on this website is up to date and easy to access. Design: The design of this website has all links well defined and organized. There are pictures that also correspond to all of the links and headings. There is easy navigation throughout the whole website and everything is easy to access. Everything is up to date. There are a few varieties of media, mostly in the form of words and images. There is a copyright, also with a description as to how the website can be used for educational purposes.

Lindsey Carter 9-4-2011 Overview: Phrases.org.uk, "The Phrase Finder," is a website dedicated to providing the meanings and origins of common phrases used in everyday speech. The intended audience is individuals seeking information on these phrases. The sponsor is not clearly identifiable, making the information seem less credible. The site is interesting and informational, but I do not find it reliable Content: The overall content of the site is quickly determinable, along with the intended audience. No author or sponsor of the site is identified, but a link does give a brief history of the founder, Gary Martin. In addition, the site does provide an email contact and a Facebook and Twitter link (these links also work properly). There is no latest revision date available, so the user has no idea how frequently the site is updated. The purpose of the site is clear, and the content is clear and manageable, but the lack of credible information makes it somewhat unbelievable. There is no way to know if the information is accurate, although most of the data is extensive. Other links that exist include "The Phrase Thesaurus" (a site supported by "The Phrase Finder"), and a discussion forum for the site, and links to phrase books on amazon.com. The appropriateness of these links seems subjective to the needs of the user. Design: The appeal of the website is not strong. The homepage seems unprofessional, although it is organized somewhat effectively. The title and headings are clear and communicative, but again, no site sponsor or copyright date is provided. Moving around the site is fairly easy, due to clear directions on site categories. The amount of information the site provides is sufficient and easy to find, as the list of links is organized. Again, no date of revision is labeled, but a working link of contact information is available. The design does need to be improved to update the professional quality, but the site is usable.

Lindsey Carter 9-4-2011 Overview: DrGrammar.org is intended for individuals with English questions ranging from grammar and word origins to common errors in English. The site is provided by the University of Northern Iowa and is edited by the UNI Department of Languages and Literature. Overall, I was very impressed by the amount of information the site provided, although it was slightly less organized than I would have hoped. Content: At first look, the basic content of the site and intended audience is very clear. The author of the site is also identified, and a link is available for the user to find out more information about the university. Users may also contact the UNI Department of Languages and Literature via email from the site. A date of the last revision isn't clear, but the copyright date is. All links work perfectly, loading quickly and effectively. The purpose of the site is informational, and it is quite effective and complete. The information on grammar and common mistakes is given along with easy-to-understand examples. The website is free of bias, and additional resources are available via link to Purdue University. Design: The website's homepage is not the most attractive. The title and sponsor of the site are both clear, and an index does exist to guide the user. Directions are in place to help the user navigate the site and find the information they seek, but the titles of the index are not clearly categorized. Again, the date of last revision also isn't clearly identified, but the overall information is helpful to those with English inquiries.

Adrianne Lauman September 02, 2011 Overview The purpose of this free website is to provide knowledge and awareness of North American bird species and their habitat. The site encourages people to make connections to science and nature through bird watching. The information is directed toward people of all ages who have an interest or curiosity to learn more regarding ornithology. Video clips, audio clips, colorful photos, range maps and life histories are available for investigating bird species. The site provides expert knowledge on the subject of birds in a clear and visually pleasing manner. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology developed this website and the National Science Foundation supports it. Content The site appears well organized with a visible heading to initiate a search for information on bird species. The search feature has an automatic fill in based on the first letters typed to allow the user to locate the bird of interest. Interactive selections allow a person to listen to bird sounds, as well as watch video footage of the bird. The site provides opportunities to "ask an expert" about topics concerning ornithology and information on how to participate in bird projects. One project named Feeder Watch allows people to send in their own data based on their bird watching experiences. Design The website has clear headings to locate topics and information. The copyright information and developer of the site are displayed at the bottom of each page. The photos of the birds are eye-catching and appealing. The information provided by the site is abundant and well worth viewing.

Overview: Even though the URL, on this site appears to be of a significant source, it is not. The site goes into detail what cyber bulling is, but it doesn't present any facts or statistics about cyberbulling, or states where it had obtained its information from. It also tends to take a more emotional view on the issues, instead of presenting information. Content: While it is easy to identify the basic content that is presented, and identify who the audience is, it doesn't provide specific material as to whom the author is in this site, as well as where they obtained their information from. The sponsor is not clearly identified as well, and it also doesn't state how current the information is. There is also a significant amount of bias presented in this article, and there are no obvious links at first glance. Website Design: Overall, I wasn't impressed with the design of this website. Even the the homepage, has a strong eye appeal, and makes the purpose of the website well know, it doesn't provide a clear method of organization such as an index or table of context. This site also doesn't clearly identify the sponsor of the site, how to contact them, as well as the copyright date. This site does use a significant amount of multimedia, and has browser compatibility, but the way the content is presented, is lacking. The information is not easy to navigate through, and the list of links are not easy to use. It also doesn't date when the site was last updated, or provide you with other links.

Regene DePiero 9/5/2011 Overview: This site is geared toward students in math courses.  It provides a number of online calculators to help solve anything from equations to derivatives.  Its layout is a little confusing after in depth exploration.  Some links do not work or content listed is not what is actually provided.  Also calculators do not offer step by step explanation which only helps students get an answer, and not learn anything about the process.  From a teacher's perspective, not an ideal tool for actually learning math. Content: There is no clear author or sponsor listed.  Information appears to be correct but many of the calculators do not return answers for many problems attempted.  There are almost no actual math explanations provided, only tables and answers.   There is no revision date listed, merely a copyright date at the bottom of the page.  There are links to other pages on the site but most are actually ads and not specifically sponsored but the site itself.  Several links are broken, however there is a link to contact for more information.   Design: This site is confusing to navigate.  What appear to be links to other pages on the site are actually ads.  Several links either do not work or bring you back to the page you were on.  The calculators seem like helpful interactive tools until put into use.  They are difficult to use and there is not a good explanation as to how to input the problem so that they are solved properly.  Also several calculators don't even return an appropriate answer.  Links to "courses" and "lessons" actually only bring you to pages with tables of equations.

The content for this site is very well put together. It is a site where you can go and start a new language and you can either start a free trial or pay to use it. It might be similar to Rosetta Stone. It has a easy to use box that will start you with the basics of the language you are trying to learn.The design is simple you have the unit and lesson at the top of the square saying what one you are on. On the left had side there are boxes with learn, review, write, and speak. Once you have completed all of those levels you are able to use the skill builder exercises to improve your skill. In the middle of the box is a picture with the word of phrase you are trying to learn. Underneath is a rewind play and fast forward button so you can move back and forth from picture to picture. I think that although this could be done from beginning to end I didn't find a way for someone who already knows some words. I also don't think that the exercises were very fun and one would get bored after a while and either stop paying attention or their motivation would die so they would want to do something else.  I am also not sure who the author is or what date it was updated, the only information it said was copyright in 2011.

This site tells you everything you need to know about Montessori teaching methods.

Kristin Gaines September 11, 2011 Overview- Overall, this site is very useful and is designed to teach users about Montessori teaching methods. The intended audience is teachers, but it would be a useful site for parents as well. The available resources are all relating to the Montessori Company and not to other links. This website is definitely useful and is a good site to use when exploring teaching methods of early childhood. Content- The content of this site is very reliable. It is updated frequently; the last time it was updated was just 6 days ago. The only problem with this website's content is that it is biased towards Montessori teaching. This is not a huge problem though, because any user would know that it is biased because the web site developer is Montessori. Design- I could not find any faults in the design of this site. Everything from the table of contents section to the obvious copyright date, this site lays out everything a user needs in order to navigate through its contents. I would recommend this site to others, because it is laid out so neat.

Overview: This website is a really good site for math help. It offers help on many topics of upper level math. The Fact Monster Homework Center also offers information on the history of mathematics and quizzes are available for the student. Games are also available to the student. The site is through Fact Monster and the Homework Center offers help on many other subjects in school.  Content: The Homework Center offers help on numbers, formulas, factors, fractions, measurements and money. The website is mainly geared toward the secondary level of school. Games are also available to the student for help with studying. The author of the webpage is not available but the copyright date and company is. The content is up to date.  Design: The design would appeal to older students. There are colors and the graphics aren't boring. The site is very easy to navigate. The links are big and bold and easy for the viewer to see. 

Overview: Fuel the Brain is a math website which provides games for students at different learning levels. This site is mainly geared towards lower grades including K, 1, 2 and 3. This site seems really fun upon first glance. Not only are there games for children, there are also printable worksheets for teachers and parents. Teacher guides and articles are also available.  Content: This website offers games that cover counting, numbers, operations, algebraic thinking and geometry. These games would be ideal for young children. The website has minimal advertising. The author information is available under the 'About' link and the contact information is available under the link labeled 'Contact'. The copyright is not available. Design: Fuel the Brain's homepage is very colorful and attractive to younger children. However, older students would not appeal to this website. At the top of the homepage the links are provided clearly for easy navigation. 

Chelsea Eisenbarth 9/11/11 Overview: This website is made for the general public to enjoy as they learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Students, parents, teachers can all find something to look at. There are photos and an interactive timeline to help put in perspective the location and time of the different stories that make up the story of Lewis and Clark. The information compiled by National Geographic is easy to follow, read, and understand. Content: This website contains easy obtainable information on Lewis and Clark. It is well organized in a timeline with information, a photo gallery, and even lesson plans or activities that can be used in the classroom. The information is easy to understand and fun to explore. The information seems to be current and the different links work without stress or frustrations. Design: This website took a refreshing new design approach using a timeline to help organize their information. The timeline was easy to use and loaded with ease and efficiency. The graphics were nice and effective providing pictures to go along with the information in the readings. The site was easy to navigate and the links seemed up to date although the copyright was from 1996. Due to the content of the information I don't think this date makes much of a difference and the information still seemed accurate.

Overview: S.O.S Mathematics is a free resource for math help for high school, college and adult math students. The website reviews all different math subjects ranging from Algebra to Differential Equations. You can also get help regarding specific topics rather than the subject as a whole. The website has more than 2,500 math pages that are easy- to- understand and helpful. This website also helps with test preparation and offers 'Cyberboard', which is a help forum used to ask specific math questions. Content: The homepage loads quickly but there is an advertisement pop-up along with an advertisement on the top of the homepage. Above the advertisement is a toolbar with links to each subject of math. There is a wide variety of subjects that are available to the student for help. There is a current copyright date on the website and the content appears up-to-date. At the bottom of the homepage is the company's contact information. When clicking on a subject, lists of sub-topics are included under that subject, which makes navigation on the webpage easier for the student. Design: The content of this webpage may be very helpful to students, but the design of the website is a bit bland and boring. The design does not look very up to date. The design of this website could potentially turn away a student looking for help at first glance because it's not appealing to the student. 

Overview: This site is a good study tool and teacher resource. The audience ranges from kindergarten to eighth grade and is loaded with credible information in all its subjects. This site can be quickly identified and the age range for the site can be easily determined. The author is clearly identified and information on the author is available. The content is updated frequently and all pertains to the original purpose of the site. Content: The content is well organized and the information in the site is easy to understand. The content is free of bias and provides interactivity throughout the various subjects. The content is updated frequently and is accurate. Grammar and spelling are correct and the information is consistent with similar information found in other sources. Design: The homepage downloads effectively. The user can verify that the site is what it is, a study help site geared towards students. There is an index and a site map, as well as the copyright date established at the bottom of the home page. Each graphic and audio/video file serves its own purpose. The site is useable with more than one browser. Everything is clearly labeled and organized and is worth visiting.

Mike Wilson Site review September 18, 2009 Science Buddies Free Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools for Serious Students Introduction This is a very detailed and comprehensive site to facilitate student science fair projects. It can be used by the casual science fair student though the stated target student is the serious science student. Detailed information is provided for students and teachers K-12. The site is supported by 30 major science and technology corporations and is run by a staff of 18 not including the Seagate IT people. Anything to do with a school science project, this is your stop. Google ranking is 6/10 with 321 backward links. Content Evaluation First Look The home page and site are by no means fancy. Simple and clear what the information is and where to go on the site. The depth of the site is extensive. As you start your information search you can easily select your target grade level. Information Providers The purpose of the site, sponsors and fact there are real scientists involved is clear. Information Currency Site is fully operational and current. No daily revision date is given but 2009 Copyright is in place. Extensive links to other sites from each specific science project page for additional information. Information Quality Content is extensive, selectable for grade level. Very well organized and effective science fair development and projects for students, teachers and parents. Massive resources on the site itself with additional links out as needed. Design Evaluation Speed Science Buddies is very well designed to be a quality information site. Fast loads. Very text oriented, limited and simple graphics with properly sized thumbnails to keep page loads quick. Home Page & Ease of Navigation 9 tabs across home page top or easily 9 home pages. Actual home page is 85% above the fold. Very easy and quick to move around the site. The 'Topic Selection Wizard' is very functional, grade, gender, subject

This website, Incredible Art Lessons, is orangized very well and is very easy to navigate through. The intent and purpose of the website is very clear, it is specifically designed to give support and ideas to art teachers for a wide range of ages. There are many different links that teachers can use to get ideas for new projects from. The website also has lesson plans and ideas for all age groups in school, ranging from elementary lessons to undergraduate lessons. I really liked how the site also provided art project ideas for each holiday. The site also provides online activities for students for each project/idea. The lay out of the website is very easy to use and all of the links are current and helpful. At the bottom on the webpage there is a clear way to contact the creators of the website, and it was last copyrighted in 2009.

Teachnology.com downloads quickly and efficiently with no problems even with so many graphics. Things are setup in a pleasing manner and links are clear and easy to navigate to but there may be a little too much distracting advertisement. There are a variety of different resources and ideas regarding teaching methods and lesson plans. An effective site map is provided as well as a help link making this site easier to navigate (disregarding the abundance of advertisements). Graphics downloaded quickly and add the purpose of the site. Information is clearly labeled and organized appropriately but the wealth of information (different links to similar information) makes this site a little overwhelming but very useful. If further information is needed, contact info is provided and can be found easily. The copyright date is clear and information is kept current on teachology.com.

Posted by Allie Parrott 09/17/09\nEducation World as it says on the site is "an educator's best friend". On this site there are ideas for lesson plans, education games, and even ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. Content: This site has a ton of information. Although there is information for all ages, it seems more geared toward elementary school teachers. There are links for every subject. Math practice, punctuation of the day, and writing instructions are all in one spot. However there are five main categories to make a teacher's research quicker. These include: Lesson Planning, Professional Development, Technology Integration, Administrator's Desk, and School issues. There is even a convenient search bar located at the top of the page if the previous options do not fit that teacher's needs. The site is updated daily. This is extremely beneficial for a returning user. There are a lot of links and buttons to push before the user reaches their destination, but once there the information is clear. Most lesson plans are completely done for the user. There are also educational game instructions ready to be printed out. It's very easy for teachers to use. Everything is copyrighted by Education World and they can easily be contacted by selecting the link at the bottom. I would consider this site very credible and useful tool. Design: The design is fantastic. The most important links are at the top of the page in bright colors. Almost every link is in alphabetical order, making it easy to come back to a particular one. It is very colorful and flashy. There are a lot of advertisements down the right side of the page, but surprisingly they do not draw attention away from the information. The links work flawlessly and quickly. The feature that lets one searcher on the world wide web, or strictly in Ed World is also a helpful element of the design. Attributions: I would feel save using this site to get ideas for my class. There is contact information.

Content- This site would be very helpful in finding different lesson plans, and tools needed for Ag teachers. This site is very easily navigated, and the intended audience is very obvious. This site has many authors, but gives main credit to the Georgia Agriculture Curriculum. There are many links to other sites, and they all seem to be working properly. There are many different links to lesson plans that would be very helpful for a teacher. This site is very well organized, and has many different helpful elements. This seems to be a very worthwhile site with very great information. Design- This is a very "busy" site, but has so much great information that the amount of activity is very helpful. All of the graphics are very helpful, and add to the content of the site. This site has a great amount of information, and is very well worth the visit. All information is easy to find, and would bring many new ideas to a teachers classroom. Attribution- It is easy to contact the administrator of this page, and the copyright name and date is on the bottom of the site.