Rationale: Elementary teachers increasingly encourage children to use websites and other software to help them learn and refine knowledge. But not all content and format is equal in quality and appropriateness for young children.
Description: Critique web-based resources for children K-3 and evaluate the appropriateness of each website’s ability to support standards based instruction.
Directions:
1. Identify ten websites designed to teach math and science concepts to children in K-3 that would support standards-based instruction. Evaluate the website using the evaluation form provided by your professor. After evaluating using the evaluation from write a one page analysis for each website that includes:
a. an evaluation of the website’s content (website evaluation form will be provided by the instructor)
b. an analysis of its developmental appropriateness
c. your thoughts on what children would like or not like about the sites
d. what changes or improvements you would make
e. whether or not you would recommend the website as a teaching tool for teachers or parents
2. Rank the ten websites from your most to least favorite by making a list.
3. Using your most and least favorite of the math and science websites, spend at least 10 minutes on each site with two different children and ask for their feedback on the site. (FEAP 3.g)
4. Write a reflection that includes the following:
a. Children’s feedback
b. How well your professional assumptions about the websites matched up with the children’s reactions and experiences.
c. What did you learn from this experience?
d. How you would plan to use appropriate technology to support standards-based instruction in your classroom. How could these websites become part of the activities within your classroom to assist in meeting learning outcomes? (FEAP 1.f)