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Evaluating Instructional Websites

EduWeb
http://www.netspot.unisa.edu.au/eduweb/

Reviewed by Chris

Contents
Abstract
Literature

Objective, subject and target group
Category and level
Services on and off the Web
What: Instructional material
How: Instructional setup
Communication and interaction
Comment and personal rating

Abstract
EduWeb provides guidance for educators who would like to deliver their learning materials on the Web.

up - Abstract - Literature - Subject - Level - Services - What - How - Communication - Rating

Objective, subject and target group
Goal
  • helping educators designing learning materials for the Web
  • being an example of such a learning environment

    Subject

  • design of Web-based learning materials

    Target group

  • educators dealing with the Web.

    up - Abstract - Literature - Subject - Level - Services - What - How - Communication - Rating

    • Category and level
    Category
  • EduWeb is a manual style website: presenting a good selection of useful informations and hints.

    Level

  • Within the target group, both beginners and advanced learners find helpful informations - have to be used to responsible learning.

    up - Abstract - Literature - Subject - Level - Services - What - How - Communication - Rating

    • Services on and off the Web
    EduWeb is fully Web-based, no other service provided.

    up - Abstract - Literature - Subject - Level - Services - What - How - Communication - Rating

    What: Instructional material
    EduWeb deals with four main issues involved in using the Web for learning:
    - theory,
    - practice,
    - media,
    - interaction.

    Theory
    - theoretical backgrounds connected to teaching and learning on the Web
    - concepts in learning
    - new learning technologies
    - hypertext concepts
    - strengths and weaknesses of the Web for delivering learning materials

    Practice
    - general design goals
    - designing a web for learning
    - information design and interface design
    - creating 'good' HTML

    Media
    - uses and considerations involved in different media
    - appropriateness of different media
    - text, graphics, video, sound

    Interaction
    - interaction with the materials
    - direct personal interaction
    - learners as authors

    Example: Why the Web?
    This page in the Theory chapter contains information about:
    strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, transformative potentials, and references.

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    How: Instructional setup
    The informations are presented on thematical pages. Users read the informations that are broken up into small and well edited text pieces.

    Three helpers provide assistance in searching informations:
    - Glossary: a list from A to Z, the items are linked to the full texts.
    - Contents: the links in this table of contents deliver the respective pages as well.
    - Find: searching by keywords - in the EduWeb or on the WWW.

    Example: Elements of Guidance
    This page in the Practice chapter contains information about:
    information structure, physical appearance, and interface.
    Very useful are the links 'Recommended Reading': they connect users to specific manuals or provide book-titles.
    The References present links to selected periodicals or guides.

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    Communication and interaction
    EduWeb encourages educators to keep in mind interaction and communication.
    But, users of this website are limited to the possibilities of the Web: clicking, searching, EMail.

    Example: Human-Human Interaction
    This page in the Interaction chapter contains information about:
    EMail, mailing lists, newsgroups, chats, and Moo/Woo - with links for Recommended Reading, Resources, and References.

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    Comment and personal rating
    Good overview, useful links, well structered, easy to navigate - just informations and links.

    The comments of Yaz, Anne, Sophie (1) (2) (3)

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    tidBits 111-18

    contact mail to: prolingua@access.ch
    Chris Mueller (prolingua@access.ch)

    ++41 (0)52 301 3301 phone
    ++41 (0)52 301 3304 fax

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