I love this site! It is so hard to teach kids about the fact that anyone can make a web site and write what ever they want. These sites are perfect for teaching the students.. .....http://teachbytes.com/2012/11/01/test-website-evaluation-with-10-hilarious-hoax-sites/
Then, why didn't I know about this Google kids safe search site? I want this set up as our go to page. http://www.safesearchkids.com/ This is awesome!
Interesting, in my opinion, and what I read in the 4 criteria for website evaluation, all 4 of the answers in the quiz for thing 10 could be considered important for evaluation.
Then, why didn't I know about this Google kids safe search site? I want this set up as our go to page. http://www.safesearchkids.com/ This is awesome!
Interesting, in my opinion, and what I read in the 4 criteria for website evaluation, all 4 of the answers in the quiz for thing 10 could be considered important for evaluation.
ISTE- Searching safely and citing your work fits ISTE 3a- Safe, legal, ethical use. Also 1b as students explore and learn about real world issues and topics using technology. For the Framework, students summarize and note take as they compare and contrast issues and topics.
Site Compare/Contrast Web Evaluation
As I try and make a derision about what sites to compare/contrast, the first thing I notice is, as someone who teaches a broad range of grades, Usability and Design is very important to me. Right away I found, just because they call it "Kids" doesn't mean it is kid friendly. Once past the cute pictures and the promise of games, I find that the actual information is lacking or way above reading level for all of the data/search/resource sites. The only ones listed on Mel I would use with early el are World Book Kids and Britannica. On both eLibrary and Kids infobits, I found that even the things they had listed came up with entirely different subjects then what was listed, even with different search techniques. Perhaps my 5th graders could sort through this mess, but any younger I'm not so sure.
elibrary vs infobits Web Evaluation
elibrary kids seems to be mostly a collection of sites and links. There doesn't seem to be any biased and it's purpose seems to be just to help find information. Infobits also seem unbiased, but it offers more actual pieces of information from periodicals, etc. As for content, some articles are only small pieces of information, others are full books. It took me a while to actually find what I needed. Time is always an issue with research but all I wanted were basic dates and info. I did find great stuff if I was looking to do an opinion piece though.I think the real trick is knowing when it is time for the encyclopedia and when it is necessary to really dig in. Kids Infobits let me do some of that digging.
All bases were covered as far as the Basic evaluation tool. The articles and sites have authors and publications listed and all seem very credible. Usability was good as everything is listed according to kind and content, although I still have to dig through the rubbish so to speak.
As I try and make a derision about what sites to compare/contrast, the first thing I notice is, as someone who teaches a broad range of grades, Usability and Design is very important to me. Right away I found, just because they call it "Kids" doesn't mean it is kid friendly. Once past the cute pictures and the promise of games, I find that the actual information is lacking or way above reading level for all of the data/search/resource sites. The only ones listed on Mel I would use with early el are World Book Kids and Britannica. On both eLibrary and Kids infobits, I found that even the things they had listed came up with entirely different subjects then what was listed, even with different search techniques. Perhaps my 5th graders could sort through this mess, but any younger I'm not so sure.
elibrary vs infobits Web Evaluation
elibrary kids seems to be mostly a collection of sites and links. There doesn't seem to be any biased and it's purpose seems to be just to help find information. Infobits also seem unbiased, but it offers more actual pieces of information from periodicals, etc. As for content, some articles are only small pieces of information, others are full books. It took me a while to actually find what I needed. Time is always an issue with research but all I wanted were basic dates and info. I did find great stuff if I was looking to do an opinion piece though.I think the real trick is knowing when it is time for the encyclopedia and when it is necessary to really dig in. Kids Infobits let me do some of that digging.
All bases were covered as far as the Basic evaluation tool. The articles and sites have authors and publications listed and all seem very credible. Usability was good as everything is listed according to kind and content, although I still have to dig through the rubbish so to speak.
Mel Resources
It has been a while since I have checked out Mel. Our librarian has a link for it now on our school page. I used to use SIRS Discoverer, but it is no longer a choice. A few of these links have improved greatly as far as Usability/Design.
BookFlix- Awesome! Great for reading time and students with finished work. We could also generate class discussions as each student reads the same book. The listening feature is great for my low or young readers.
Britanicca Elementary - Perfect! I like the usability, it's perfect for early grades who can't sort through a search list. I also like the safety and the Authority/Credibility.
Britanicca Learning Zone - Great for pre or early readers.
World Book - Early World of Learning. Great young kids. I really like World book's layout at both levels. They always present a great variety of facts at an appropriate level.
Ebook Collection - Ok, I am going to read some of these myself. This is really cool!
Ebooks K-8 - My middle el. students will love this! I found "What is Freedom" that fits our constitution unit. It's perfect for group discussions.
Reference Center Gold - This is great for even many of my upper el. I like the credibility of the info and the fact that they tell who, what, when etc. It is very user friendly for the level it is. I noticed that it did better than the younger kids version for pulling up the info I needed, and yet the reading level is about the same in the end.
KidsInfobits - For going beyond the basics of your topic. Content, Authority, Usability, Design, all excellent for better readers researching beyond the basics.
Michigana - History-I wish it was geared better for younger kids. The usability is not so good for elementary. It's the younger kids who do Michigan.
World Book and World Book Junior. - These are two of my go to spots for grades 1-3. The reading levels are set perfectly and even at the earlier grades, there is plenty of quality content.
It has been a while since I have checked out Mel. Our librarian has a link for it now on our school page. I used to use SIRS Discoverer, but it is no longer a choice. A few of these links have improved greatly as far as Usability/Design.
BookFlix- Awesome! Great for reading time and students with finished work. We could also generate class discussions as each student reads the same book. The listening feature is great for my low or young readers.
Britanicca Elementary - Perfect! I like the usability, it's perfect for early grades who can't sort through a search list. I also like the safety and the Authority/Credibility.
Britanicca Learning Zone - Great for pre or early readers.
World Book - Early World of Learning. Great young kids. I really like World book's layout at both levels. They always present a great variety of facts at an appropriate level.
Ebook Collection - Ok, I am going to read some of these myself. This is really cool!
Ebooks K-8 - My middle el. students will love this! I found "What is Freedom" that fits our constitution unit. It's perfect for group discussions.
Reference Center Gold - This is great for even many of my upper el. I like the credibility of the info and the fact that they tell who, what, when etc. It is very user friendly for the level it is. I noticed that it did better than the younger kids version for pulling up the info I needed, and yet the reading level is about the same in the end.
KidsInfobits - For going beyond the basics of your topic. Content, Authority, Usability, Design, all excellent for better readers researching beyond the basics.
Michigana - History-I wish it was geared better for younger kids. The usability is not so good for elementary. It's the younger kids who do Michigan.
World Book and World Book Junior. - These are two of my go to spots for grades 1-3. The reading levels are set perfectly and even at the earlier grades, there is plenty of quality content.
Hoax Site Review
I love this! I made a site years ago that showed polar bears overtaking a town in Michigan. The students totally believed it at first.
Boilerplate-I feel like Jules Verne may have put this page together. Usability/Design- This is an older site, written in an older language so it works and looks a little clunky. Some dead links are a giveaway too. No Authority is listed like Historical Society or other, no credentials mentioned, no links to, or list of sources. Content - At first I thought there was no history or background on Boilerplate, then I found some of the links that told the "story." If the page was laid out better, it would be much more believable. I think if this page was re-written in a more modern html format, sidebars, etc. it would actually be pretty believable.
Tree Octopus-Ok, this is a cool site! The Usability/Design is excellent and even looks professionally done. Content is well labeled and easy to follow, with the topic covered extensively. At first glance, there are many Authorities listed (links, sources, responsible people) You have to stop and look before realizing that they are just random references to Octopus, like the Dictionary video that just talks about the word Octopus. But they really add to the appearance of site validity. The links are even live and carry on the farce. Someone put a lot of work into this.
I love this! I made a site years ago that showed polar bears overtaking a town in Michigan. The students totally believed it at first.
Boilerplate-I feel like Jules Verne may have put this page together. Usability/Design- This is an older site, written in an older language so it works and looks a little clunky. Some dead links are a giveaway too. No Authority is listed like Historical Society or other, no credentials mentioned, no links to, or list of sources. Content - At first I thought there was no history or background on Boilerplate, then I found some of the links that told the "story." If the page was laid out better, it would be much more believable. I think if this page was re-written in a more modern html format, sidebars, etc. it would actually be pretty believable.
Tree Octopus-Ok, this is a cool site! The Usability/Design is excellent and even looks professionally done. Content is well labeled and easy to follow, with the topic covered extensively. At first glance, there are many Authorities listed (links, sources, responsible people) You have to stop and look before realizing that they are just random references to Octopus, like the Dictionary video that just talks about the word Octopus. But they really add to the appearance of site validity. The links are even live and carry on the farce. Someone put a lot of work into this.
The Search and Citations
Using Google Scholar, I researched elementary writing and topic sentences. As I teach the children, some sites are hard to site. The best way was to just use the Google citations listing. It did a better job than Easy Bib or any of the others. There seems to be information that isn't accessable to all and Google seems to get it.
EasyBib
Anderson, Valerie, and Suzanne Hidi. "Teaching students to summarize."
Educational leadership 46.4 (1988): 26-28.
Google offered every form of citation, MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.
I tried a web page in EasyBib, it worked better and had more info. Web pages can be hard to site.
"Topic Sentence." Time4Writing. Time4Writing, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. <http://www.time4writing.com/writing-paragraphs/topic-sentence/>.
Using Google Scholar, I researched elementary writing and topic sentences. As I teach the children, some sites are hard to site. The best way was to just use the Google citations listing. It did a better job than Easy Bib or any of the others. There seems to be information that isn't accessable to all and Google seems to get it.
EasyBib
- Title: Teach Students How to Summarize
- Publisher: 40 Ways to Support Struggling Readers in Content Classrooms
Anderson, Valerie, and Suzanne Hidi. "Teaching students to summarize."
Educational leadership 46.4 (1988): 26-28.
Google offered every form of citation, MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.
I tried a web page in EasyBib, it worked better and had more info. Web pages can be hard to site.
"Topic Sentence." Time4Writing. Time4Writing, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2016. <http://www.time4writing.com/writing-paragraphs/topic-sentence/>.