Product Evaluation Project

Jeff Toorongian, Heidi Hilmer, Christi Camel

EDTECH 505_SU11

Cells Alive Recommendation

Cells Alive is above your target age range, with a mode of grades 10-12. It presents
material with a mixed approach (both information and tutorial) and has been determined to be effective in a variety of settings, including whole class, small groups and individually. The most appropriate instructional application was found to be basic instruction for all levels though differentiation for multiple groups may be found. Site usability, content and vividness were deemed excellent, though the educational value was lacking in an activity plan, method of communication, student feedback, a rubric, and help tools. This site may be useful for accelerated students at your school but will need to be heavily supported by the classroom teacher to see the best results.

Dinosauria Recommendation

The Dinosauria web site was rated at the high end of your K-8 target range with a mode
of grades 7-9. Significant ratings above this range may also indicate an older target audience than you specify. Materials are informational and best used as individual resources either in or out of the classroom. Basic instruction was identified as the most appropriate use for Dinosauria, while enrichment instruction was also mentioned. Usability ratings ranged between adequate and excellent, with design rating the highest. Content ratings were excellent in all categories. The educational value of Dinosauria received adequate ratings for activities and resources, but activity plans, communication and feedback, and a rubric and help tools were not present. External links were rated excellent. Although the site may be useful to some students in the K-8 range, you might consider this site better suited to your advanced learners in those grades.

Earth Floor Recommendation

The Earth Floor web site fits well with your K-8 target range.

The mode was grades 4-6 and followed closely by grades 7-9. The web site was rated best for information uses and suited to individual student use both in and out of the classroom. Basic instruction was the identified application. Usability and content ratings were excellent in all categories with the homepage and navigation rating the highest. Educational value ratings indicated many items were not present, including activity plans, communication tools, feedback mechanisms, a rubric, and help tools. Educational resources were rated excellent however. While external links were rated highly, there was an indication that the site has not been kept current. Overall this site does match your target grades and should provide valuable information for those students. The site seems highly appropriate for individual enrichment activities as well.

Food Chain Recommendation

The Food Chain web site is well suited for your target K-8 students, as the survey results
indicate an appropriate grade level of 4-6. The site reflects a mixed mode of instructional styles that will provide basic science instruction for all learners. The usability of the Food Chain site is adequate in terms of its homepage design, navigation, readability, and user enjoyment. The graphics and learning activities, including games, are age appropriate. While the site content is relevant and appropriate for your students, the overall design is poor. Advertisements are a distraction throughout and external links navigate the users away from the site. The site does lack additional resources, feedback opportunities, assessment and help functionality. Therefore, students may benefit from using the site in class, where assistance is available.

Kids Biology Recommendation

Kids Biology was found to be at the upper end of your target age range, with a
recommendation of 4th-9th grade. Material was found to be presented in an information style, with some respondents classifying it as mixed mode. Kids Biology would be most effectively used by individuals, but seems suitable for both in and outside of class use. The most appropriate instructional application was found to be basic instruction for all levels. Site usability, content and vividness were deemed mostly adequate, though the educational value was lacking in an activity plan, resources, method of communication, student feedback, a rubric, and help tools. While this site is grade level appropriate for your needs, it is lacking in several very important areas and may not be beneficial to your students.

The Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci Recommendation The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci web site is not suited for your target grade level, as
the survey results indicate an appropriate grade level of 10-12. At first glance, the site seems more appropriate for a Fine Arts resource. However, it does contain a wealth of science material and the site received a top rating for relevant content and appropriateness. The site design, readability, and user enjoyment also ranked very high. The most effective use of the da Vinci site would be as a tutorial for an individual learner. A majority of the information is provided via external links, however some are inactive. Many learning activities are provided, but there is no activity plan or rubric for assessment questions. Additionally, there are no communication tools or help functions. While this site does not fit your grade level needs, it may be well suited for the advanced student as an enrichment resource.

Cells Alive Qualitative Response Summary

Usability
Pros
Graphics (images/ animations) and sound enhance the site, simple site design, navigation was intuitive

Content
Cons Pros
Clear, high quality, relevant content, large amount of content, website author is highly qualified

Cons
Data with pictures is inadequate, no external links

Ads detract from the site, purpose is not clearly stated, color scheme may be overwhelming

Educational Value Pros

Interactive quizzes that allow learners to review material, link to a live help center

Vividness Cons Pros Cons

No rubric, no activity plan, Site was well-maintained, No external links no forum or chat option, links all worked (all activities (puzzles and internal) crosswords) don't reinforce content understanding

Dinosauria Qualitative Response Summary

Usability Pros
Content mostly relevant.

Content Cons Pros Cons

Can be wordy. Excessive information.

Too many links, confusing Content good and navigation. relevant. Good use of pictures. Good sources provided.

Educational Value Pros Cons Pros

Vividness Cons
Not updated for many years (at least 5). One broken link.

Many resources available. Passive learning. No Rich information. activities, interactivity or Links mostly worked. exploration opportunities.

Purpose

Popular: Exc/Adeq Median: Adequate

Homepage

Popular: Excellent Median: Excellent

Navigation

Popular: Excellent Median: Excellent

Design

Popular: Excellent Median: Excellent

Enjoyment

Popular: Excellent Median: Excellent

Readability Popular: Exc/Adeq Median: Adequate

Earth Floor Qualitative Response Summary

Usability
Pros
Modules organized clearly. No ads. Fun, eye catching design. Nothing distracting on the pages. Well designed and good graphics. Good readability. Easy to follow.

Content
Cons Pros
Thorough coverage. Well written and engaging. A good basic site. Content well presented, good activities.

Cons
Can get wordy. Not challenging enough for academically talented. Should be more interactivity for younger kids. No references listed.

Text is wordy and less focused. Stale design. Lots of scrolling required. No homepage, no purpose or objectives listed. Confusing navigation. No multimedia.

Educational Value Pros Cons Pros

Vividness Cons

Good mix of information No activities present. No Mostly timeless Some links broken. and activities. Instructional communication forums or content. Most links work. Not recently updated. materials thorough and feedback opportunities. well presented. Great outside resources. Lots of new information for students. Many resources.

Food Chain Qualitative Response Summary

Usability Content

Pros
Appropriate graphics for grade level. Games can be used by individuals or small groups.

Cons
Large quantity of advertising is distracting. Busy page design. Navigation is confusing.

Pros

Cons

Age appropriate Poor page organization. content. Concise No sources are information presentation provided. with diagrams.

Educational Value Pros

Good content. Learning games illustrate core concepts.

Vividness Cons Pros Cons

Links not clearly differentiated from text. Some advertising links. No indication of last site update.

Limited learning Many informational links. activities. No assessment or feedback opportunities. Poor game design.

Kids Biology Qualitative Response Summary

Usability
Pros
Easy to navigate, colors are nice

Content
Cons Pros Cons
Difficult to discern content from ads, excess and irrelevant games, lacks organization, hard to determince authority

Ads detract from content Sufficient information (placement in the middle preseneted for target age of material), sporadic group placement of text and images, too many distractions, no clear purpose, lacks continuity throughout the site, text is small

Educational Value Pros

Good amount of content, additional links provide more content

Vividness Cons Pros Cons

Links are hard to discern from text (same color and weight), forum link is broken

No interactivity, games Most links work, links provide no application of provide additional content, no feedback, help valuable information tools are found on a different siteprovided

The Genius of Leonardo da Vinci Qualitative Response Summary

Usability Pros
Easy to use. Clear presentation of a single lesson.

Content Cons Pros

Good content for enrichment, regular lessons, or remediation depending on grade level. Appropriate for small group work.

Cons
Poor design -important information is difficult to ascertain. Most information is obtained through external links. Assessment is subjective.

Links to external sites are redundant, distracting, or inactive.No table of contents. Home page needs better structure.

Educational Value

Vividness

Pros
Provides a great deal of information. Checks for understanding with assessment questions.

Cons

Pros

Cons
No indication of last update or update plans. Broken links and missing media.

Passive learning. Limited Abundance of activities and informational links. interactivity. Lack of rubric for assessment. No help component.

Responsibilities Jeff Toorongian-recommendations and data analysis slides

for Dinosauria and Earth's Floor

Heidi Hilmer-recommendations and data analysis slides for

Food Chain and The Genius of Leonardo Da Vinci

Christi Camel-recommendations and data analysis slides for

Cells Alive and Kids Biology

All members-slide design and layout, discussion on data

analysis procedures and useful information to include (settled on sample size, frequency distribution and mode)