EDRD 5386
Website Evaluations
E. Tricey Godfrey
November 6, 2012
Website #1: Rader’s Chem4Kids
Author/Organization Credentials: Andrew Rader Studios, All rights
reserved. All information, materials, functions and other content contained on
RADER Sites are our copyrighted property, the copyrighted property of our
licensors or licensees, or public domain content (government photos for
example). All trademarks, service marks, trade names, and trade dress are
proprietary to licensors and/or our licensees or us. We may change the RADER
Sites or delete Content or features at any time, in any way, for any or no
reason.
Web Site Design and Ease of Navigation:
POSITIVE POINTS: The website has been designed
with a wide variety of users in mind. It
is great “basic chemistry” information from about age 10 and up. The site is very
user friendly and easy to navigate. The main menu bar appears on each page at
the top of the page. Each page is then
broken down into a large number of subtopics with a handy menu on the right
hand side of the page. Everything can be
accessed through the menu bar that is always present at the left hand side of
the screen. Also on each main page is an
option for “More Chemistry Topics” which offers a huge list of additional
topics as well as great enrichment activities including Examples and
Quizzes. The pictures and content are
bright, interesting and very legitimate as it is even referenced in the Texas
TEKS for use with several Chemistry Web Quests.
NEGATIVE POINTS: Although I understand the
need for the support dollars, the advertising from Google that “litters” the
site is both annoying and distracting. And while the “More Chemistry Topics” is
positive in that it adds quite a bit of relevant content to the site, the site
author should really recategorize the site add these “topics” on separate pages
available through the main menu or basic subtopics. The user has to scroll down 3+ full pages to
even read through the entire list.Response and Recommendation for Use: Due to the success and
popularity of the Rader’s site, the same template has been applied to several
other Science disciplines including Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth
Science, Physics as well as Math. These links are available on each of the
subtopic pages in the bottom right corner.
Rader has designed the site as a “tour” for the user which I found to be
a refreshing approach. It is a great site to utilize with Web Quests and
initial vocabulary introduction. I have
also found it to be useful for more basic explanations and simplified
vocabulary for my ESL students. These
students, along with Special Education kids, struggle quite often with not only
the new “science” words but also the vocabulary used to define those words.
Copyright date and/or Last
Update: Last Formal Update February
9, 2012
Author/Organization Credentials: Curiosity Media, Inc. You acknowledge
that SpanishDict owns all right, title and interest in and to the Service,
including all intellectual property rights (the “SpanishDict Rights”).
SpanishDict Rights are protected by U.S. and international intellectual
property laws. Accordingly, you agree that you will not copy, reproduce, alter,
modify, or create derivative works from the Service. You also agree that you
will not use any robot, spider, other automated device, or manual process to
monitor or copy any content from the Service. As described immediately below,
SpanishDict Rights do not include third-party content used as part of the
Service, including the content of communications appearing on the Service.
Web Site Design and Ease of Navigation: I
happened across this site as I was feverishly searching for a more “detailed”
site than just Google Translator for one of my English Language Learner
students that speaks virtually no English.
The site has more than 1,000,000 Spanish translations, 10,000
verb conjugations, and 60
videos to learn Spanish. He speaks almost no
English and we needed a way to not only communicate a word or two but for him
to be able to define the vocabulary and hear the pronunciation.
POSITIVE POINTS: The website is very clean and
easy to navigate. The main menu bar appears along the top of each page. The two most important topics, TRANSLATE and
CONJUGATE, do not have any subtopics which makes utilizing the two most
important tools of the site very easy.
Three of the other main topics contain several useful subtopics. The
site is updated on the minute as the content is provided by users of the
site. There is an active Blog and
Q&A page that users may find extremely helpful. The site not only translates the word but
provides several definitions of the word and the pronunciation of the word and
definition in Spanish or English as needed. One neat feature is the “Word of
the Day” which provides learners with a new word each day, a definition and
examples of how the word can be used.
NEGATIVE POINTS: I again found the advertising
from Google that “litters” the site to be both annoying and distracting. I
think the site could use more graphic illustrations as there are virtually none
except for the “Word of the Day” and the advertising. Although allowing constant user input keeps
the site up to date and fresh, there is also the risk of inaccurate content
being posted on the site. There is even
a disclaimer in the “Terms of Service” which actually makes a reference to this
point.
Response and Recommendation for Use: My ELL students and I use
this site almost daily. It has proven to
be an invaluable communication tool in the classroom. With a few minor adjustments and
improvements, the site would be fantastic!
Website #3: TEA
Copyright date and/or Last Update: ©copyright 2007-2012
Author/Organization Credentials: Texas Education Agency (TEA) Copyright ©
Texas Education Agency, 2010. The materials found on this website are
copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency
and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the Texas
Education Agency, except under the following conditions:
1)
Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers
may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the
districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from the
Texas Education Agency;
2)
Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials
and Related Materials for individual personal use only without obtaining
written permission of the Texas Education Agency;
3)
Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited,
unaltered and unchanged in any way;
4)
No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document
containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction
and distribution may be charged.
Web Site Design and Ease of Navigation:
POSITIVE POINTS: The website has a TON of
great, pertinent information for Texas Educators as well as parents and
potential educators. The “Main Topics”
have a small explanation under each topic and appear in an easy-to-get-to spot
in the top left corner of each page. It is frequently updated with new
standards, continuing education, statistics and relevant Texas education
articles.
NEGATIVE POINTS: Unfortunately, the negatives
outweigh the positives on this site. It
is very busy and extremely hard to navigate.
There are entirely too many subtopics and sub-subtopics featured on each
page. It is difficult for a user to
pinpoint where a topic can be found as there are too many choices and too much
overlap on each page. There are very few
graphics which might help break up some of the business of the text. On one single page, I counted over 10 different
fonts with 6 different font colors with
only two tiny clipart images. Also, when clicking on a sub-subtopic, the site
opens a completely different page in the same tab or as a HTML document rather
than opening up a new window. This
leaves the user unable to go back to the previous page or site unless he/she
keeps hitting the back button and this does not always work either.
Response and Recommendation for Use: This is an essential site for
Texas educators. I have been
disappointed with the utility of this site prior to even moving to Texas. It is very frustrating to find information in
the layers upon layers of topics, subtopics and sub-sub-subtopics. The site could easily be broken down into
several other multiple sites, i.e TEA Curriculum, TEA for Parents, TEA for
Continuing Education and so forth. In
fact, each of the Main Topics could be its own website. It is, however, a great source for the TEKS
standards and explanations of the standards.
Website #4: The ChemCollective – Online
Resources for Teaching and Learning Chemistry
Copyright date and/or Last
Update: Last Updated June 3, 2012
Author/Organization Credentials: CarnegieMellon - The Chemistry Collective
is a collection of virtual labs, scenario-based learning activities, and
concepts tests which can be incorporated into a variety of teaching approaches
as pre-labs, alternatives to textbook homework, and in-class activities for
individuals or teams. It is organized by a group of faculty and staff at
Carnegie Mellon University for college and high school teachers who are
interested in using, assessing, and/or creating engaging online activities for
chemistry education.
Web Site Design and Ease of Navigation:
POSITIVE POINTS: This is a fun, fresh site
that has a clean layout and is easy for students and instructors to
navigate. The Main Menu bar with clear
subtopics appears along the left side of each page. On each of these pages is a
plethora of creative activities, tutorials and information with a simple
explanation/description and a difficulty rating. The content is relevant and up-to-date with
contributions from highly qualified educators and students. The directions for
each activity or lab are clear and concise and quite simple to follow. The site
also gives users the opportunity to modify a particular activity or contribute
one of your own. The free “Virtual Lab Authoring Tool” gives educators quite a
bit of design freedom. The colors and
fonts on the site are calm and easy to read.
NEGATIVE POINTS: Although the site is easy on
the eye, there is certainly a need for more graphics and imagery, particularly
in the case of student use. Students are
captivated by good graphics and in a world of thousands of competing messages
and information, solid content should be accompanied by a powerful image. The
content is also a bit detailed and progressive in nature which may be difficult
for general high school students so educators must be selective about which
tools and activities to use in the classroom.
Response and Recommendation for Use: I have utilized this site
several times with my students both as a resource for class presentations as
well as allowing the students to complete some of the activities and virtual
labs. It is a refreshing change from
standard textbook problems and a great alternative to having to go into the lab
each time I try to teach a new content standard. Using this site also helps reinforce the
importance of technology in the classroom and as an essential part of
continuing education.
Website #5: Massengale’s Biology Junction
Copyright date and/or Last
Update: Last Updated 2011
Author/Organization Credentials: Work copyright ©Massengale. “THANKS for USING my work, but PLEASE DO NOT
POST my work to any other site! --- Cheryl”
Web Site Design and Ease of Navigation:
POSITIVE POINTS: This is a really neat site
for educator use that is bursting with every type of classroom tool imaginable!
There is a colorful frog theme on the main page with a huge variety of topics
related to Biology as well as Chemistry and Physical Science. The content on the site has become recognized
as reliable and qualified by teachers and other educational groups. It is relatively easy to find a main topic
from the Home page. There are super
links and references to other pertinent sites and activities. The site does not have any annoying ads
running across it and appears to rely primarily on donations and the sale of a
few educational items. There are very
few rules or guidelines for usage of the content on the site except not to
repost the information on another website. Another unique feature that is
interesting to both teachers and students are the two live web cam links for
bird watching on the Home page. It is a
great way to keep users coming back to the site for repeat visits!
NEGATIVE POINTS: While full of color and
creativity, the site is extremely busy!
The user must bookmark the main page and keep that tab open separately
while navigating around the site. Upon
choosing a topic, the site navigates you away from the Home page with virtually
no way of getting back except to hit the back button or by going to your
bookmark or open tab. The menu items are
not handily available on each page.
Also, with a site this in-depth, a site search bar would be quite
useful. Another absolutely annoying
feature on this site is the crazy flash trail that follows your mouse around on
the screen and makes it difficult to read or click on items.
Response and Recommendation for Use: Even with the overabundance
of graphics and information per page and the relatively high level of
difficulty required to navigate the site, I use this site all the time in my
lessons and with my students! The content is so high quality and relevant and
easy to deliver to every level of student. I have enjoyed using the Power Point
presentations, activities, labs, worksheets and creative, engaging ideas for
introducing new concepts. If this site is used with students, I would recommend
providing a direct link to the desired activity or document to ensure students
navigate to the correct page.
EDRD 5386
Reading Log: Science Books
E. Tricey Godfrey
October 6, 2012
Rationale:
I
teach two separate high school science subjects, Biology and Chemistry. The majority of books I selected are
primarily focused in Biology although a couple could easily overlap into
Chemistry. Nearly 50% of my students are
English as a Second Language (ESL) so many times general vocabulary is an issue
for them and they do not read outside of class very much. However, we are making a big push toward the
students utilizing the technology available to them both inside and outside of
school and so all of the books I selected are available for free download on
any variety of devices via Amazon or our local library’s ebook program.
I chose both fiction and non-fiction
books and the authors wrote in a variety of points of view. I believe each of the books will challenge
the students in their vocabulary and while I don’t think I will use all of them
in the class as “assigned reading”, I did find something valuable in reading
each book. The variety of topics and
genres offer a great variety of opportunities to add a new dimension to the
sometimes “dry” subject material as presented in the textbook or class notes. I was pleased to find so many good titles (in
addition to the ones I reviewed) available via ebooks and easily
accessible. The likelihood that my
students will actually read and become engaged in the reading is greatly
enhanced when offered electronically.
The ebooks also offer them an opportunity to immediately look up
vocabulary that is unfamiliar or that they do not understand. Finally, I discovered several other books
along the way in my investigation for suitable reading that I will be very
excited to use in the classroom.
Book Review Responses:
Book One
· Title: Human
· Author: Robert G. Berke
· Publisher:
MultiModoMedia
· Copyright: 2011
· ISBN: 978-0984950706
· Genre: Science
Fiction
· Library Location:
Amazon Kindle ebook and TLL Temple Memorial Library Online
Summary: The author takes the
reader on a science fiction journey through the potential and dangers of using
science to create immortality as well as exploring the mysteries of the human
brain. It is written in a limited
third-person point of view and is relatively easy to read and follow. The book combines the element of science with
a spy-like mystery thriller which keeps the reader engaged and eager to read
more. The controversial ethical
questions of the science in the book, the reality of the global political
dilemmas it presents and the unexpected conclusion leaves the reader with many
questions and much to think about after reading.
Personal Comments: Although it was not very challenging to my
personal vocabulary or reading ability, I enjoyed reading this book. It was a quick, easy read that really made me
think about the potential questions that this type of science brings to the
table. While the book does have quite a bit of vocabulary that may be new to
students, particularly ESL, the story line is engaging enough that it would
encourage them to uncover the meaning. I
think that the ethical questions the book raises are subjects these students
are likely to see in their lifetime and would provide them with a greater
global perspective.
Suggested Use in
Classroom: I would envision using this book in
two ways with my students. First, it could be assigned as a major extra credit
project or as a semester project to students for reading and evaluation. The
second way, and probably more effective method, would be to utilize a jig-saw
type model of teaching and have groups of students read particular excerpts
from the book then explain and debate the science issues with the rest of the
class.
Book Two
· Title: 52 Interesting,
Amazing and Fun Facts about the Human Body. Tips to Live a Happy and Healthy
Life
· Author: Devsir
· Publisher: Amazon
Digital Services
· Copyright: 2011
· ASIN: B004QS940Y
· Genre: Non-Fiction
· Library Location:
Amazon Kindle ebook
Summary: This is a super short book
full of fun and interesting facts related to the human body. It has several illustrations and provides a
short quiz at the end to test the reader’s knowledge of general health and
wellness facts. The final pages of the
book provide some great tips on how to improve a healthier life.
Personal Comments: The book was very short and full of picture and
images. The cover images are actually
very good for most students in terms of correctly identifying parts of the body
correctly but certainly effective for ESL or ELL students. The facts in the book were fun and unusual
and bring up some great discussion topics and opportunity for questions and
answers.
Suggested Use in
Classroom: Again, I would envision using this
book in multiple ways with my students. First, it could be assigned as a small
extra credit project students for reading and evaluation. The second way, and
probably more effective method, would be to assign one “fun” fact to each
student and have them do a little online research on it and discuss it with the
class. Finally, this could be a very fun, engaging “Jeopardy” type game with
the 52 facts from the book.
Book Three
· Title: The A to Z of Global
Warming: The Facts Not the Fiction
· Author: Simon J Rosser
· Publisher: Schmall
World Publishing
· Copyright: 2008
· ISBN-10: 0955809207
ISBN-13: 978-0955809200
· Genre: Non-Fiction
· Library Location:
Amazon Kindle ebook and TLL Temple Memorial Library Online
Summary: This is a very
well-written book which clarifies many confusing terms and topics concerned
with global warming. It is written in a
first person, and while there is a good bit of what could be classified as
“personal opinion”, there is good scientific basis for the information including
citations from a variety of publications and studies. Its subject material and information crosses
over several scientific disciplines including Biology, Chemistry and
Environmental Sciences. The key points
and the end of each section are a very nice touch to reiterate key points.
Personal Comments: I actually learned quite a bit from this book! The
author used sound Chemistry and Biology and TONS of studies and examples to
back up the facts he presented. I think
that it would be overwhelming for most of my students to read as a whole but
could easily be broken into parts. There
is quite a bit of vocabulary which would be unfamiliar to most well read
adults, let alone most students especially those non-native English speakers.
Suggested Use in Classroom: I definitely plan to use this book
in my classroom! In fact, I wish I had
seen it in our previous unit on Ecology.
I will most likely assign certain sections of the book as appropriate
with chapters or pull certain parts out to supplement the lesson. Due to the vocabulary and the high-level
concepts, I think many of my students would struggle reading it on their own. I
would use it to assign new vocabulary and perhaps Vocabulary Web Quests
or to research further on a given topic for a poster or Smartboard
presentation.
Book Four
· Title: A Beginner’s Guide to the Brain: Major
Discoveries That Will Change Your Life
· Author: Dr. Elaine Johnson
· Publisher: The
Teaching and Learning Compact
· Copyright: 2012
· ASIN:
B006XYMO0G
· Genre: Non-Fiction
· Library Location:
Amazon Kindle ebook and TLL Temple Memorial Library Online
Summary: This is a very interesting
book that is probably more related to psychology of the brain versus the brain
itself. However, Dr. Johnson presents
many recent scientific discoveries which have changed the way physicians,
educators and parents as well as many others can approach their patients,
students and children to improve behavior, learning and overall health. She does present quite a bit of scientific
evidence that could be classified into Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and
Physiology and certainly Psychology.
Personal Comments: I found this book to be quite intriguing and
almost like a “short-course” in psychology.
After reading, I feel like I am armed with some neat new tools that
might help improve the way I approach certain situations in my classroom. I think it also proves that we do have the
ability to not only raise our own IQ but directly influence raising the IQ of
other people.
Suggested Use in
Classroom: I
doubt I would assign this book for any type of reading assignment in my
classroom but I will definitely be using some of the strategies presented in
the book. Another way I see using it with my students would be to “prove” to a
student in “writing” that they are capable of more, capable of higher learning
and capable of raising their own level of intelligence utilizing a few simple
strategies.
Book Five
· Title: Secret Life of the
Brewer’s Yeast: A Microbiology Tale
· Author: Dr. David Wooster
· Publisher: David
Wooster and Amazon Digital Services
· Copyright: 2011
· ISBN:
147816526X
· Genre: Fiction
· Library Location: Amazon
Kindle ebook and TLL Temple Memorial Library Online
Summary: This is a short, easy to
read book that places an interesting twist on the subject area of microbiology
by combining it with a bit of history and world geography. It is written in first person as a narrative
account of the author’s “real world” experience. The storyline is a bit disjointed even though
the science presented within the story is pretty sound. The plot is a bit difficult to follow at
times and some of the ideas come across very far-fetched in reality.
Personal Comments: I found this book to be dry and boring for
personal reading. I did not think it was
very well written although the science in it was secure. It appeared to me that a relatively good
scientist wanted to become an author and perhaps that was not his area of
expertise. It is very unlikely that I
would assign this to my students to read.
Suggested Use in
Classroom: The
one way in which I might use this book in the classroom would be to pull out a
few of the very good explanations he gives for processes such as yeast
fermentation or how a microbiologist might conduct certain experiments, etc. to
compliment a lesson. I would likely
display a section on the Elmo and then have students do a particular Web Quest
related to the information or section.
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