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Web Evaluation

Search Topic: Reading Disabilities, Dyslexia

Type of Search: Subject

Search Engine: Excite

Attempt	Search Term	Number of Hits	Quality
1	Reading Disabilities	Gave top 10 hits	It was good, it explained the two most common reading disabilities, Dyslexia, Hyperlexia
2	Reading disabilities in children	Gave top 10 hits	Good, but more focused on children with other learning disabilities.
3	Dyslexia	Gave top 10 hits	Good, it explained the disease and gave information on how to work with it
4	Dyslexia in children	Gave top 10 hits	Good, gave information on how to work with the children

Evaluation

WWW CyberGuide Ratings for Content Evaluation

Title of site: Excite

Subject of site: Reading disabilities, Dyslexia

URL: http://www.dyslexia.com

Considered for use with (class and grade level): Adults with dyslexia.College level SPED classes. Parents who have children with another reading disability or dyslexia.

1. Speed

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

use during whole class instruction.

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

keep students on task during independent/small group study.

2. First impression - general appearance

-The home page is designed attractively and will 5 4 3 2 1

entice my students to further exploration.

-The home page is designed clearly enough to be 5 43 2 1

successfully manipulated by my intended users.

3. Ease of site navigation

-My students will be able to move from page to 5 43 2 1

page, link to link, item to item with ease,

without getting lost or confused.

-All links are clearly labeled and serve an 5 4 3 2 1

easily identified purpose.

-Links provided to other pages and sites operate 5 4 3 2 1

efficiently enough to keep my students on task.

4. Use of graphics/sounds/videos

-The graphics/sounds/videos are clearly labeled, 5 4 3 21

clearly identified.

-The graphics/sounds/videos serve a clear purpose 5 4 32 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The graphics/sounds/videos will aid my students in 5 43 2 1

reaching the desired objectives for using this site.

5. Content/Information

-This site offers a wealth of information related 5 4 3 2 1

to my stated objectives.

-The information is clearly labeled and organized, 5 4 3 2 1

and will be easily understood by my students.

-The content of linked sites is worthwhile and 5 4 3 2 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The content of linked sites adds to the value of 5 4 32 1

this site for achieving my instructional goals.

-The information providers are clearly identified. 54 3 2 1

-The information providers are reliable. 5 4 3 2 1

-The content is free of bias, or the bias will be 5 4 3 2 1

clearly recognized by my students.

-This site provides interactivity which increases 5 4 3 2 1

its instructional value.

6. Currency - The site was recently revised. 5 4 3 2 1

7. Availability of further information

-A contact person or address is readily available. 54 3 2 1

8. Add the total number of points you awarded to this site and determine your overall WWW Cyberguide rating. For any specific category that did not apply to this site, deduct five points from the total possible points.

____WWWWW's = (100-91 points) - This site is so well-designed, and so

effectively meets my instructional goals, that I can provide my

students with general instructions and allow free exploration.

____WWWW's = (90-76 points) - This site contains good material but a

site map with specific directions will assist my students in

reaching the stated objectives.

_75_WWW's = (75-61 points) This site contains information that will make

stops at designated points worthwhile, but students will

need more structured guidance to reach my instructional goals.

A list of bookmarks to specific pages and/or links is advisable,

as is frequent discussion of student progress.

____WW's = (60-46 points) Although useful information exists at this site,

its most effective contribution to my objectives will be in

whole-class instruction where I can guide exploration and keep

students on task.

____W = (45-31 points) This site contains a few pieces of information

that make it a possible alternative when other sources are

not readily available. Supervised student use is advised.

Karen McLachlan, Media Specialist

East Knox High School

23227 Coshocton Rd.

Howard, Ohio 43028

kmclachl@knox.net

Search Topic: Reading Disabilities, Dyslexia

Type of Search: Keywords, dyslexia, reading disabilities, in children

Search Engine: Northern Light

Attempt	Search Term	Number of Hits	Quality
1	Reading Disabilities	Gave 205,697	Good, but the search was too broad
2	Reading Disabilities in children	Gave108, 358	Good, it focused more on the children’s needs
3	Dyslexia	Gave 41,984	Good, but it but the search was very broad
4	Dyslexia in children	Gave 21,129	Good, more focused on the children’s needs, and ways to help

Evaluation

WWW CyberGuide Ratings

Title of site: Northern Light

Subject of site: Reading disabilities in Children, and Dyslexia

URL (address): http://www.cdipage.com/dyslexia.htm

Considered for use with (class and grade level): For parents and teachers, and other adults.

Specific objective for using this site: research

Evaluate the Web site you are considering for instructional use according to the criteria described below. Circle the number

which you feel the site deserves for each category: 5 = Excellent and 1 = Poor.

1. Speed

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

use during whole class instruction.

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

keep students on task during independent/small

group study.

2. First impression - general appearance

-The home page is designed attractively and will 5 4 3 2 1

entice my students to further exploration.

-The home page is designed clearly enough to be 5 4 3 2 1

successfully manipulated by my intended users.

3. Ease of site navigation

-My students will be able to move from page to 5 43 2 1

page, link to link, item to item with ease,

without getting lost or confused.

-All links are clearly labeled and serve an 5 4 3 2 1

easily identified purpose.

-Links provided to other pages and sites operate 5 4 3 2 1

efficiently enough to keep my students on task.

4. Use of graphics/sounds/videos

-The graphics/sounds/videos are clearly labeled, 5 4 3 2 1

clearly identified.

-The graphics/sounds/videos serve a clear purpose 5 4 3 2 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The graphics/sounds/videos will aid my students in 5 4 3 2 1

reaching the desired objectives for using this site.

5. Content/Information

-This site offers a wealth of information related 5 4 3 2 1

to my stated objectives.

-The information is clearly labeled and organized, 5 4 32 1

and will be easily understood by my students.

-The content of linked sites is worthwhile and 5 43 2 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The content of linked sites adds to the value of 54 3 2 1

this site for achieving my instructional goals.

-The information providers are clearly identified. 5 4 3 2 1

-The information providers are reliable. 5 4 3 2 1

-The content is free of bias, or the bias will be 5 43 2 1

clearly recognized by my students.

-This site provides interactivity which increases 5 4 32 1

its instructional value.

6. Currency - The site was recently revised. 5 4 3 2 1

7. Availability of further information

-A contact person or address is readily available. 5 4 3 2 1

8. Add the total number of points you awarded to this site and determine your overall WWW Cyberguide rating. For any specific

category that did not apply to this site, deduct five points from the total possible points.

____WWWWW's = (100-91 points) - This site is so well-designed, and so

effectively meets my instructional goals, that I can provide my

students with general instructions and allow free exploration.

____WWWW's = (90-76 points) - This site contains good material but a

site map with specific directions will assist my students in

reaching the stated objectives.

__71 WWW's = (75-61 points) This site contains information that will make

stops at designated points worthwhile, but students will

need more structured guidance to reach my instructional goals.

A list of bookmarks to specific pages and/or links is advisable,

as is frequent discussion of student progress.

____WW's = (60-46 points) Although useful information exists at this site,

its most effective contribution to my objectives will be in

whole-class instruction where I can guide exploration and keep

students on task.

____W = (45-31 points) This site contains a few pieces of information

that make it a possible alternative when other sources are

not readily available. Supervised student use is advised.

Karen McLachlan, Media Specialist

East Knox High School

23227 Coshocton Rd.

Howard, Ohio 43028

kmclachl@knox.net

Search topic: Reading Disabilities, Dyslexia

Type of Search: Keyword

Search Engine: Alta-Vista

Attempt	Search Terms	Number of Hits	Quality of Hits
1	Reading Disabilities	3,379	Okay, but it was very broad.
2	Reading disabilities in children	114,447	Good, a lot of different sites focusing on children’s needs.
3	Dyslexia	49,325	Good, explained what dyslexia is and ways to work with it.
4	Dyslexia in children	232,065	Okay, showed mostly the same sights as the previous search term, but focused more on children’s needs

Evaluation

WWW CyberGuide Ratings for Content Evaluation

Title of site: Alta-Vista

Subject of site: Reading disabilities, Dyslexia

URL (address): www.scrtec.org/track/tracks/022/c02247af.html

Considered for use with (class and grade level): It would be good for teachers and parents, to help them learn more about this disability and find ways to help the children work with it.

Specific objective for using this site: Research

Evaluate the Web site you are considering for instructional use according to the criteria described below. Circle the number

which you feel the site deserves for each category: 5 = Excellent and 1 = Poor.

1. Speed

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

use during whole class instruction.

-The home page downloads efficiently enough to 5 4 3 2 1

keep students on task during independent/small

group study.

2. First impression - general appearance

-The home page is designed attractively and will 5 43 2 1

entice my students to further exploration.

-The home page is designed clearly enough to be 5 4 3 2 1

successfully manipulated by my intended users.

3. Ease of site navigation

-My students will be able to move from page to 5 4 3 2 1

page, link to link, item to item with ease,

without getting lost or confused.

-All links are clearly labeled and serve an 5 4 3 2 1

easily identified purpose.

-Links provided to other pages and sites operate 5 4 3 2 1

efficiently enough to keep my students on task.

4. Use of graphics/sounds/videos

-The graphics/sounds/videos are clearly labeled, 5 4 3 2 1

clearly identified.

-The graphics/sounds/videos serve a clear purpose 5 4 3 2 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The graphics/sounds/videos will aid my students in 5 4 3 2 1

reaching the desired objectives for using this site.

5. Content/Information

-This site offers a wealth of information related 5 4 3 2 1

to my stated objectives.

-The information is clearly labeled and organized, 5 4 3 2 1

and will be easily understood by my students.

-The content of linked sites is worthwhile and 5 4 3 2 1

appropriate for my intended audience.

-The content of linked sites adds to the value of 5 43 2 1

this site for achieving my instructional goals.

-The information providers are clearly identified. 5 4 32 1

-The information providers are reliable. 5 4 3 2 1

-The content is free of bias, or the bias will be 54 3 2 1

clearly recognized by my students.

-This site provides interactivity which increases 5 43 2 1