Group items tagged

Overview: This website explores briefly the holiday of Día de los Muertos. Though it is not very attractive to the eye, the information given is very helpful for any Spanish language learner. A student would build or expand their knowledge using the historical, individual traditions, food and candy, and vocabulary necessary for understanding the festivities. The site also leads to other helpful pages such as a recipe for sugar skulls that was the easiest and most realistic I found. This is a fairly good website, that gives the unique insight of the vocabulary; therefore I would use this in my class to expand upon previous knowledge. Content and Design: The design lacks the attention grabber to draw in the audience, however it is not completely boring, and effectively describes and offers unique cultural details to the tradition. The webpage itself works well, and is easily navigated. In the same way other links are useful work efficiently. The information has not been changed since 2004, but since it is giving the general process for the tradition the information still holds true, however there may be better sources for how the culture has transformed in modern time. There is contact information that could be used for further exploration of this theme. The vocabulary is an extremely useful tool in teaching Spanish and Spanish culture, therefore I would say this is a usable website.

Overview: The website examines the holiday near Halloween known as Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It adds new historical information that is expanded upon more than in other sources I found. This information explains the progression of the tradition from the ancient Aztecs era to contemporary times, while also examining the global expansion and adaptation of these cultural practices. This would be helpful to a student of Spanish to more deeply explain how this tradition came to be and how it continues to change over time. There are extensive videos and layers of the site to explore if the student wants to gain further understanding. I would use this site with my future students. Content and Design: The layout of the website does not have a strong eye appeal, however there is an abundance of useful and fun information available. The author is listed, but there is not a way to contact them on this page. The site is fairly easy to access, however the other sections are in a box that is about half way down the page on the side, so easily overlooked. The information is recent, however not updated frequently. There is a large amount of information available here, though the design could be improved.

Overview: This website provides an in depth incite into the cultural practice of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). People interested in Spanish culture, such as students, would be captured by the pictures of food, alter, decorations, outfits and candy. This site is packed with useful, and at times interactive, information, while also allowing for further exploration to deepen knowledge of this Culture. The site is well organized, culturally accurate, and draws the audience in. This is a source I would use to introduce this tradition to my future students. Content and Design: The altars section has the viewer interact with the altar to understand the cultural significance of each element, though these vary depending on the region or family. The author and sponsor are available to answer questions a person may have, and the information is updated frequently. The information is not too broad, but also not too complex that the reader loses interest, therefore the website is engaging through both the written information and the pictures provided. There is opportunity to look deeper into this holiday if a person so chooses.

Holly Page October 14, 2012 Overview: The website entitled "Mr. Anker's Tests" was created for teachers and students. The website covers all content areas in grades k-7. The site is filled with activities that support California State and the Common Core State Standards. The site provides link with additional resources for outside information. The links provide information in math, social studies, science, reading, vocabulary, literature, and Spanish. I found the site very useful for my particular needs. I think this website would be very useful in a variety of subject areas for online exploration. Content: I thought that the website was pretty self-explanatory from looking at the homepage. I had no trouble identifying the audience and content of the website. The author is clearly identified (a biography of the author is provided giving credibility to the site) and available to contact at any time. It was difficult for me to verify how current the website was due to the lack of a revision date. The information seemed up-to-date and the links on the site were current and fully functioning. It was clear upon entering the site that it is used for educational purposes. The content supports the intended purpose and is complete. The site was well organized and seemingly free of bias. The games included on the site were interactive and seemed accurate to the best of my knowledge. The site was professional with correct spelling and grammar. Design: The site's homepage downloaded efficiently and was well organized; easily orienting it's users. The creator of the site and contact information was provided. There was no copyright date anywhere within the website. I found it easy to navigate the webpages within the site; directions and external links were provided and well functioning. There were graphics and games (these made a significant contribution to the website). "Mr. Anker's Tests" had plenty of information that was clearly labeled and consistent. A