[EDIT 772 home] [Jeff Williamson home]
This course will have one or more short reviews of sites or software relevant to educational web sites. They will be posted online for peer comments, but I need to emphasize that they are really short (2-5 page) papers. This is about the length needed for the papers to reach graduate level depth and thoroughness.
One or more of of the following reviews may be used in your course:
1. Competitive/similar/desirable web sites review - Pick 2-4 sites that bear some similarity to the type of site you wish to create for your final project. The similarity can be approximate, and does not have to include content (e.g. a cooking site has some features you want to use in your chemistry site). List the URLs and titles, and discuss the aspects of the sites listed below:
Found by - How did you find this site?
First impressions - What made you notice this site more than other similar sites?
Good things - What do you feel are some good things - if any - about the site?
Problems - What do you feel are some problems - if any - with the site?
Would you really use it? - Many - most? - instructional web sites are, on close inspection, unusuable with the specific goals that most of us have for classes we teach and independent learning we wish to undertake. Be honest - would you really use this site? Where and for what purposes?
Theories and approaches - If you are familiar with some theories and approaches to learning, then state which ones you feel best describe the ideas behind the site you chose.