Learning Educational Technologies

There were a couple websites that I had in mind to evaluate, but one has more information, while the other is great for looking for other websites (www.cyberbee.com). Edutopia.org is a great website! The information provided is very up-to-date and credible. The site is directed toward anyone interested in education. It contains videos, podcasts, article archives from the Edutopia magazine, and many more interactive aspects. The appearance of the site is very professional and current. There is mulitmedia included throughout, with the videos and even a scrolling banner on the homepage. The layout is very easy to navigate. There is a wide range of information on the site, and it is easy to find what topic you are looking for. The site is easily accessible and there is no need for login or any money (unless you want to subscribe to the magazine). Overall, the site is amazing. I have included it on  my del.icio.us site if you would like to browse through it.

I also found a webquest that I thought was pretty neat. The quest can be found at http://www.dedham.k12.ma.us/webquest/summer2002/lp/plantswebquest.htm.  Plants are the topic of the quest, and the students are challenged to help aliens grow plants on their planet by writing a journal and answering specific questions. They also create their own garden. I thought this  was a great webquest, and the way that Ms. Peachwall presents the information on the site is great. It is very organized and easy to follow. Everything needed for an effective webquest is presented, including a grading rubric. The site is also very appealing, and not very overwhelming. It is directed toward 4th or 5th graders, and the reading level is appropriate for these grades. Unfortunately, one site that the kids were to use has moved, but has an easy to follow link; one site doesn’t work at all; and another site has a wrong link, but can be navigated to find the correct information. I like the idea and the approach, however, so if I were to use this for my students, I would fix the links, and see if there are any other resources that could be used.