ITEC2360

Amanda Lemaster January 24, 2011 Overview: This website is intended for teachers to use. The purpose is to help teachers with finding jobs, creating lesson plans and helping with curriculum in general. The website looks up to date and helpful. The resources in this website can be very helpful. When creating a lesson plan I may look at this website for ideas, but not use it as my sole resource. The thing that makes me wonder about this website are all of the ads located around the page. They are kind of hard to get around. Content: The content of this website can be useful for a teacher. There are discussions that teachers can participate in, as well as ads to help teachers find things like books or software. There are ideas for classroom activities and projects. There are also listings for teaching positions and lesson plan criteria. The content is helpful but this website may make it a little hard to find. Design: The design of this website is very neat and fresh. The website looks updated and new. I like the look of this website very much. It is clean and to the point about it's purpose. The design brings everything together and just captures a persons attention. I find the layout of this website very pleasing.

Overview: The purpose of this site is to help teacher and students. There is a lot of resources that can be used in this website. If I was a teacher I may use this website as a reward when a student got his or her work done early. I might also use this as an aid in teaching a subject. The content in this website may inspire children to learn more about a certain subject, but I would not use this as a sole teaching tool. Content: In This website there is useful information. If a teacher is stuck on a subject this website can direct the teacher to a helpful website about the certain subject. There is a section called Kid-Info that is designed to help a student with a subject. There are also suggested sites for videos, power-points and lesson plans. Design: The design of this website could be better. The contrast of the colors just doesn't seem very engaging or useful. The website looks dull and boring. However the information in this website is good, the design is lacking. Someone could update it and I feel it would help the legitimacy of the website.

Sean Wilde January 2011 http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html Content This site you can pretty quickly tell what its all about. And could tell that its audience was for kids. But it lacked personal authors and contact to the others. You can tell that is sponsored by the EPA to help kids become aware of the climate change around them. But it must of not been a big hit. The content if fairly accurate and the latest revision was almost three years ago. The site is well organized and the information has scientific back up so it is not biased. Most links worked to other sites but this site does need an overhaul to get back to be working. Design The site seems to be a little slow, and its slightly attractive but one becomes bored with the patterns it has throughout the site. It is fairly easy to navigate but it has become a dull website, probably because it just was not worth the difficulties it caused. All graphics seemed to work well but were at times slow, for a kid wanting to get quick easy information for a elementary research paper this site would be great. But this site really becomes ugly and is realized to be not well tended to in terms of what other sites have. Overview This site was probably great when it first came out, but it has ran its course. And I bet it gets used more then a bit becomes of some of the sites that link to it. Ultimately this site needs a redesign soon or someone else will take advantage of the oppurtunity (if one hasn't already) and get a better more "fun" site with same content and could make money for it leaving this site out in the cold. But as I said earlier, this site is good for the basic and bare minimum.

Jessica Chandler January 24th, 2011 *Overview: This is a website for students to practice different types of skills. There are different tabs to choose such as: History, Religion, Calculus, Biology, Algebra, and etc. These skills I found to be very useful and definitely help the students to have a better understanding of what is going on. Once the desired subject is selected, another list appears. This list shows the different topics that can be taught. Some are informational, while others are games. It is a simple and fast paced website to be using.: *Content: There are different subjects for a student to learn about through this website. I really liked this site because it was simple and clear. It made it much easier to deal with. The majority of the links are to assist student learning. It is demonstrated that students use this website to have fun, yet still learn through the selected subject. *Design: The design doesn't have much color besides brown and white. This isn't very amusing, and does not draw the readers' eye, but it is very helpful with the problems that one is having. The games are related to the certain topic and are educational. I feel that the design could be more attention seeking, but once this sight is discovered, the content should catch the eye.

Danie Thiel1-23-11 This web page is very organized and easy to fallow. The important information is in the center of the page with other related topics highlighted in blue at the bottom of the page. The page starts out with an introduction on how and why glaze is used in pottery. Then goes into composition, processes and, history of glaze.  From this page you will read about different types of glaze as well as glazing technique. This site gives a clear reasoning as to why glaze is so important in pottery. This page would be best directed towards high school students, because they would have a better understanding on how glaze works.  

Jessica Chandler January 24th, 2011 *Overview: This website is to help children with the science skills. There isn't a specific age listed for this site. It seems to me that it looks appealing for younger kids, however, some of the concepts seem like upper level science questions. The website is not as easy to operate because it seems rather slow. There are three major types of categories to choose from: experiments, field trips, and adventures. Each of these categories is to teach the students more of a certain subject most interested in. As well as that, there are a few side links to click on: Curious About, Live Cams, Now in Focus, and Citizens for Planet Earth. *Content: The content seems well organized. The only thing that I found to be super beneficial though was the experiments. This could make a good project or could just be something good to learn, helping to develop better skills for science. I cannot say that I am too particularly fond of this website. I do not appreciate the amount of time I have to wait, but I think that once you get into it, it could be a great website for teachers to use to get certain experiments and ideas from. A lot of the information is interesting, but is harder for the younger students to grasp with the detailed and complicated explanations. *Design: I love the colors from this website. It was very eye catching. It has a lot of links shown, but there aren't too many that you get distracted. There isn't necessarily a title though; it just goes right into the links to choose from. I think that the website is up to date based on some of the content I read. The design is enough for the kids to get involved and isn't overwhelming for the content shown.

Sean Wilde January 2011 Weather.com Content The name of this site really makes this site quite known what it contains. This site helps a fairly beginner to novice user of the internet find out what the weather is like for the day. It is a little better then the kids site but not as high tech as its government counterpart. The information is fairly accurate, although sometimes one does wonder about it when they look out their window. But it is the weather it sometimes is a little hard to tell. But this site is for news and is not trying to make a huge impression on anyone. This site isn't going anywhere, its needed and has enough information on it that is accurate enough. It may be hard for one to find a way to contact with authors that are somewhere on the site, but really this site is just a water downed version for the average person to use. Design The homepage is easily navigated and its links work, the graphics work, but sometimes if youa re on an older computer it is hard to get these graphics to work and links to load fast. The compatibility is wide, mostly because again it is a watered down version of weather news. But the information is enough to get one by hour by hour for weather needs. Overview The site is just intended for novice to beginner users or for those who just need a quick basis of what is going out there in the world today with weather. It has the main information that anyone wants so there is no need to add more. It is an easy correct enough weather site that one can varily easily get around and find what they need. Which if someone that is getting on to check real quick for today or to start planning a trip in a few days it's not a bad choice.

Sean Wilde January 2011 Flotrack.org Content This site right off the bat expresses exactly what it represents. And it is for those that are researching or wanted to be in the circle of what is going on in the Track & field world. The sites author is not on the main page but can be found almost in any page particularly the home page. Information about the authors, is also readily available, in the interviews that they do, as well as in their bio pages. Content is updated on a daily basis, and a easy contact email is also available. Since some of the information is received from another site links to other webpages are used and work. This site is for news, but since it does have the type of designers it has, it can have some entertainment. Flotrack has opened the eyes for those who thought they knew the world of Track and Field and brought it into the 21st century. The quickness of the information it gives lets others know that the broadcasting ability for this sport is growing and demanded. Design This site has a great opening and it is very appearant where you are at and how well the site is managed. The site runs smoothly and is updated daily. Seeing as there is data added on a daily basis. It works effectively on all three browsers I use (Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome). The videos are of good quality and it really has any glitches with sound or videos not working. Although recently when they did a mass update to the site it no longer looked as clean on my phone and Playstation 3. Overview This site is great for the student who is trying to find what they really want to do. Because, the site shows you that even though you may be an athlete, someone who is great with computers, or is just great at asking questions anyone can survive in the new age of the world. Also the fact that it is a .org site and not a .com shows it actually has a lot more legitamacy then most other sites.

Erin Kirby January 23, 2011 Overview: The sight http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/index.asp is a good sight for grades 4-12. The site provides information to help you learn about schools, find a public library, play different games, take quizzes, learn different subjects in math and more. The site does have many different links and it is a simple easy to use site. It has many different educational facts that some kids might find interesting. I think overall the information could be helpful and many students in a classroom or at home would enjoy learning about the facts, getting involved and playing the games. Content: This website is simple to use and the links are easy to follow. It is a government website so there are not a lot of pop ups or things that get in your way when trying to learn or play games. The games are interesting and educational. There are certain games that allow you to pick what grade you are in so the information applies to that certain age group. At the bottom like on most websites there are links that will show information about the site, but there is no place to find one main author. When going through the site I found that it was all very educational and kids that are into math would really enjoy it, but kids that arent may have a problem enjoying the sight. The links on the site are very simple to follow and allow students to do many things on there own. This is a sight that involves a lot of involvement that can be very fun. Overall the sight seems good for grades 4-12, it would be a good tool for students to use for many different reasons. The sight has a lot of math, quizzes, and educational facts that change daily. Design: The websites speed is fast and the links all work very smooth. The graphics are good and very smooth. The homepage has very clear links and it is not busy. It is simple to use! There are not a lot of distracting things and the site is simple and to the point about educational information. The sight is great for s

Gary Allen Jan. 23, 2011 Overview: This site is great for educators, students, and really just the general public as well. It contains a database of thousands of works by hundreds of different authors that are easily searchable and also easy to find in the index. Content: Countless pieces of literature are contained on this website as well as forums for discussion and even the option for teacher accounts for use in the classroom. Numerous sources contribute to the huge amounts of information on this site which is run through third party company. Design: Another site with a simple yet effective design, The Literature Network is very easy to navigate through and the links are very clearly marked. With an author index as well as a search box and separate links for special categories such as Shakespeare, the Bible, quotes and forums, the site takes no time to get around and the pages all load very quickly so you can spend your time reading instead of waiting. 

Danie Thiel1-23-11The layout of this site is very organized and well thought out. The site gives you a detailed list of steps to making a pinch pot. With in the steps there are highlighted words that lead to links to help the reader better understanding the world. At the end of the nine steps to making a pinch pot there is a warning advisory that provides safety precautions. After that the viewer will find a list of materials to help make the pot more successful. This site correctly tells how to make a pinch pot and would best be used in a high school classroom. This site lacks pictures, which would make the site more successful. The site also offers links to other sites that might be found helpful.           

Gary Allen Jan. 23, 2011 Overview: I really enjoy the History Channel because it is both entertaining and educational. This website is very much the same. Not only does it have an endless array of topics to study, it also has games, videos, this day in history, and many other neat items. Content: Like I mentioned above, this site is packed full of content that can be used in numerous ways as an educator or as a student. The A&E Television Network authors the site and it is being updated all the time. Here you can find pretty much anything you want to concerning any part of world history. However if your search terms aren't specific, you can get an overload of results. Design: The site is designed very well with plenty of eye catching elements and graphics. Main navigation is made very simple across the top of the page and with most systems and connections the site still loads quickly. Overall I think the design is more than sufficient to keep your attention without being too distracting.

Becky Stewart 1/24/11 Good Site Overview: The site http://www.school.com/ is designed for older students and parents with young students in school. This site is used to buy school supplies for students who are attending school. This is a good site for supplies because it has so many different options so people can get exactly what they need from it, and they don't have to worry about leaving to get the supplies. The main part of the site seems pretty complicated with a lot of information, but the side bar on the site has a lot with easy to follow links. Content: First looking at the site it looks very complicated and hard to follow. Fortunately, on the side of the site there is an easy to follow list of links that can make things more organized. There is no specific author recognized, but they do talk about how everything is provided by office depot. Also, there is a copyright date of 2010 which means that the information in recent, and people won't have to worry about the site saying they have something when they really don't. There is no address listed on the main page so the website would have to be searched to find one. A customer service number is listed so easy contact is still possible. The content is advertised very well, and users will easily be able to find what they need. Unfortunately, there is a lot of different content on the page so people may have to go through some unwanted stuff to get to the information they really need. There are no grammer mistakes on the page, and it seems like there is a good amount of further information for people. Design: The website actually loaded at a good time considering how many animations and pictures were on the page. There was no sitting around and waiting. The home page is very attractive and shows off the material that the website is advertising. It is a very good way to show the information, and appeal to peoples senses. The site is very easy to navigate. The information is clearly stated and

Danie Thiel1-23-11 This site is kind of plain and not very appealing to the eye but it is a good teaching tool. It has all the steps of making a basic coil pot from start to finish. The information is clear and easy to fallow. The site offers clear images of each step along with text so the viewer knows exactly where they are in process of making a coil pot. The text is easy to fallow and gives helpful hints to make a harder step easier. Over all the information is clear and easy for students to fallow.This site correctly shows how to construct a coil pot and would best be suited for junior high students or beginner ceramicists. I recommend this site to beginners because the information is so clear. This makes the site kid friendly.      

Erin Kirby January 23, 2011 Overview: The sight http://www.fema.gov/kids/ is a good sight for young children to participate in fun games and learn emergency information that is important to know. The age groups include any age. The purpose of the sight to teach what to do in emergency situations, and play fun games that connect to these emergencies. The site allows you to click different links that tell about a different things involving disasters and emergencies. The seems simple and entertaining to use for kids of all ages. It is helpful for them to know the information on the site as well. This is a good site for teachers to tell elementary students about so they have the information they need and can apply it to their lives. Content: This website not confusing and very simple to use no matter what you click on. There are no advertisements that become a problem and get in the way when you click on the links. The games are fun and very educational for the children. It would be helpful if a parent was with the child to help them out, but the children can also do it on there own. There are links at the bottom that explain things that a parent or teacher might want to know about the information on the site. One link at the bottom tells you all about FEMA and gives you facts and stats about them. The website is credible and has reliable information, most government sites are very educational and correct. The content of the sight is educational and fun. The links on the site are very helpful because they are simple to use and there is not a lot going on. Overall the sight seems like it could be a helpful way to learn about emergencies and how to handle them. It can also help kids get involved. I feel like it would be smart for an elementary teacher to show their students this website. Design: The websites speed is extremely fast and there are not a lot of things that become distracting or get in your way. The homepage is simple and even when you are off the ho

Amanda Larsen 1/23/11 Overview: This is a site that provides current articles and tools for people (at least high school age) to be educated in nutrition. There are diet ideas as well as calculators for things like BMI (Body Mass Index). There are shopping and meal planning tools as well as information on the nutritional needs in the different stages of life. Content: The information is current and relevant to the many different ages. This site is sponsored by the government and the authors of the different articles are appropriately referenced. At first glance the site can seem to be a bit intimidating in terms of the vast amount of information, partly due to clutter. But, the different tools are labeled clearly. Design: There are appropriate tabs and navigational tools make use and access easy. There is a vast amount of information all focused on the subject of nutrition that makes the site worth while and interesting to learn from. Links are appropriately organized in to categories and are accessible. The site is also motivational to live a more healthy life style. 

Gary Allen Jan. 23, 2011 Overview: This site is centered around everything Greek, from its history and mythology to the olympics and even the geography of the country. It seems to be geared toward a more mature audience such as high school students and above. It is a highly interactive site and is very easy to navigate and use. Content: This site is very complete in its details and the author is very reputable. The copyright is a few years old, but I've noticed no other shortcomings otherwise. The lower navigation menu includes a sitemap, glossary, bookstore, course directory, bio of the author, and contact info. Design: Simple yet effective, the design of this site is almost the perfect balance of plainness and eye catching items. All of the links loaded very quickly for me and it is very easy to navigate through the site. The ad bar on the right side of the website seems a little large and distracting, but that may just be on my browser. There is a forum included along with a photo gallery and even essay assistance, all of which I feel are useful resources for anyone interested in ancient Greece.

Amanda Larsen 1/23/11 Overview: This is a website that provides free streaming for current television shows as well as a selection of older series and movies. There are few children shows but content is more directed to young adult and adult audiences.  Content:  This site has appropriate information about sponsors and authors which are provided on every show page. The content is current and constantly being updated. A good variety of shows are available for entertainment. Design: The homepage is well organized with little clutter and a clear description of how to navigate throughout the site. Videos are fairly quick to stream. New and popular shows are creatively displayed on the home page for and attractive and user friendly purpose.

Becky Stewart 1/24/11 Average Site Overview: The site http://www.greatschools.org/ is a site designed for parents would be my hypothesis. This site is comparing different schools, and seeing which ones are the best. That is why this site would be good for parents. The parents would be able to compare schools and see which ones they would be okay with their children attending. Young children wouldn't be able to navigate this for themselves, because the site is pretty complicated so they wouldn't be able to follow it like its supposed to be used. Content: At first glance the site is very complicated. There are a lot of links that have to be followed if the right information is to be found. It is easy to identify that this site is for adults who are able to follow the links and different information. There is no easy to get information about the author, however, there is a copyright date. The date says that the site was last updated in 2011 so this is a good recent website that will carry the most recent information. An address and contact are listed however which means that contact is possible, just with some effort. The content is pretty well organized for someone that is interested in following all of it. The only flaw in the content is that if the user is looking for specific information about something than it could be very hard to find because other results may pop up that are unwanted. Overall the website has good content that would just have to be sorted out a little by the user. Design: The homepage took a little time to download, but nothing really above normal. The homepage is attractive with a lot of colors and pictures. However, it seems like there is just too much going on at once. It makes it look very confusing and can turn people off of the site just because its so much to follow. The site is easy to navigate and follow the links. On the other hand, just because the links are easy to use doesn't mean the the exact results the user

Danie Thiel 1-23-11The outline of the site is very organized and easy to navigate. The information is clear and easy to understand. The site gives a brief over view on the history of ceramics from the very beginning and what led to the creation of glaze. The site gives a basic timeline of when history occurred. There is also addition information in the timeline that the text does not offer. If a member of the site additional resources are available.The intended purpose of this site was to educate on the history of ceramics and the site does. This site is best intended for students of age of 14 and up into adult years. This site is very resourceful and has valuable information to offer. The information is easy to obtain and comprehend.