Evaluating-Web Based Lessons

Web-Based Lessons

Activity 1 Activity 2 Additional Resources

There are many lessons available on the Web. Just because a lesson is on the Web, does not mean it is Web-based. Here we will only evaluate lessons which implement Web use by the students, but many of the criteria can be used to evaluate traditional, non-technology-based lessons as well.

Activity 1

Read through the following criteria for evaluating Web-based lessons. Reflect upon the following criteria as a class or in small groups. Note any other criteria that should be included.

Criteria for Evaluating Web-Based Lessons

This lesson should do a better job teaching the subject than a traditional lesson.

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Does the technology enhance or detract from the content?

Is the information found on the Web as good as or better than information found in a book?

 

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The content, style, and delivery should address your intended audience.

 

Questions for Reflection:

Is the language/vocabulary appropriate for your students' reading level?

Is the content appropriate for the classroom/age of the students?

Does the technology require skills that my students do not have?

If so, can these skills be obtained by my students in a reasonable amount of time to allow for successful completion of the lesson?

 

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The module should address national, state, or local standards.

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Does the module address national, state, or local standards?

National Standards for Science and Math

National Educational Technology Standards

Illinois Learning Stanards (State Goals)

This is a PDF file. You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view or print this document. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site.

Chicago Academic Standards

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The lesson should inlude engaging, interactive activivites.

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Do the activities require individual student inquiry or do they require for students to work together as a class or in small groups?

Is there a culminating activity?

Is there a means of assessment?

 

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The lesson should make the best of use of the technology that is avilable in your school.

 

Questions for Reflection:

 

Are the activities designed with lab access for the entire class in mind?

Or are they designed for individual student inquiry or small group collaboration?

What kind of access will you have? Lab access or classroom access? How many computers do you have in your classroom?

Do I have access to this technology?

 

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The Web resources should be accurate, reliable, and age appropriate.

 

Questions for Reflection:

Download a rubric to help you Evaluate Educational Web Sites.

 

 

Can the lesson be modified to better fit the needs of my classroom?

For a more in depth discussion of these criteria, see Components of a Web-based Lesson Plan.

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Activity 2

Use Criteria for Evaluation to evaluate the 3 Web-based lessons you selected in Finding Web-based Lessons Activity 1. You can download a printable version of the Criteria for Evaluation of Web-based Lessons and a Rubric Checklist to take detailed notes of the individual Web sites.

These files are PDFs. To access or print them you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Abobe Web site.

Once you have evaluated your lessons, compare notes with others in your class. Do you still have the same opinion of the usefulness of the Web-based lessons? Would you consider using the Web-based lesson in your classroom?

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Additional Web Lesson Evaluation Sites

Evaluating Website Content

Kathy Schrock's Critical Evaluation Information

Wolfgang Memorial Library: Evaluating Web Resources

Evaluation of Geography Related Web Sites

Back to Finding Web-Based Lessons