How to evaluate a website

[rryz]

since i provided my senior teachers with evaluation matrics that helps them a lot in evaluating software, they are now asking me to provide them with some matrics or criteria that can help them in evaluating english language website. it is a trouble for me. may i know where can i find useful information to evaluate website?

Thanks

[kathyfelts]

Hi,
I have been working on some checklists for evaluating sites for ESL teaching for children that I am happy to share. The first several characteristics are common to all software. I hope that other teacher are willing to expand and add to this list. Numbers 6 and 7 are specific to language learning.
The characteristics of a good website for English teaching/learning vary a bit according to the specific age group, level and content. Here are some of things I look for when I am evaluating a website:
1. Information is accurate and authoritative
Information is up-to-date, correct and from reliable sources.
2. Age and level appropriate
Content is neither to childish nor sophisticated for users.
3. Appropriate scope
Covers the subject adequately without providing more information that necessary.
4. Good navigation
Easy to get in and out off. Icons and buttons are functional and intuitive. The sound can be turned on and off.
5. Graphic design and presentation
Site and activities are visually appealing. Design helps users understand the material. Text provided. Audio is clear and understandable.
6. Can be repurposed and adapted to ESL
Material includes visual clues, text and animation. This is wonderfully demonstrated in the site below.
7. Interactivity
The program is an interface that requires users to interact with it to propel the story forward. This feature is not included in the site below, but would be very good.
Take this example:
I have a second grade ESL class of mixed language backgrounds and levels 17 students in all. I recently came across a great animated story on the BBC’s CBeebies site at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/storycirc ... l?cbeebies. I like to start with a compelling story and then build the lesson around it. Although I could create materials to go with this story, I can also incorporate a lot of language development into a discussion.

Story title: Tommy Zoom and the Alien Adventure
Content: Science, including the Solar System and Pollution
Literary terms: Genres of fiction, science fiction
Vocabulary: science fiction, aliens, super powers, ozone, UV rays, solar system, planets, Jupiter, Great Red Spot, dangerous chemicals, smog
Grammar and syntax (variable): Making predictions, “I think they will…”

I hope other teachers will take this opportunity the share their experience and expertise.

Good luck!

[dvasas]

I think an important question is if the site is localized for the market, I have used some site but my students don't like them cause they don't have language or customer service report and what cartoon characters should look like are different from culture to culture.....

[kathyfelts]

Gong shi fa tsai!

You make a very good point about localization. I have never seen anyone raise this issue, but I think it is more important than most people realize. When we talk about evaluating sites, I think we need to include this very important point.

Most of the sites I use are American and British sites. I like them because they can be used to teach science and social studies. But you are right that they usually only have English language, and they use Western-style cartoons. I have Eastern European, Latino and Asian students. I notice that everybody likes the Asian anime-style cartoon characters. Do you think the age matters? I notice that the kindergarten students like anything that is animated, but the middle school students seem to have more narrow tastes.

What do you think about the material on the Korean Yahoo for Kids site? Do you think that students in Taiwan will like that style? Do you think that they will be distracted by the Korean language? What are the best Chinese language websites that you know about or use? Do you think that students in Taiwan will find sites written with simplified characters suitable? Will students in China think that sites written with traditional characters are suitable?

[dvasas]

Gong shi fa tsai!

You make a very good point about localization. I have never seen anyone raise this issue, but I think it is more important than most people realize. When we talk about evaluating sites, I think we need to include this very important point.

Most of the sites I use are American and British sites. I like them because they can be used to teach science and social studies. But you are right that they usually only have English language, and they use Western-style cartoons. I have Eastern European, Latino and Asian students. I notice that everybody likes the Asian anime-style cartoon characters. Do you think the age matters? I notice that the kindergarten students like anything that is animated, but the middle school students seem to have more narrow tastes.

What do you think about the material on the Korean Yahoo for Kids site? Do you think that students in Taiwan will like that style? Do you think that they will be distracted by the Korean language? What are the best Chinese language websites that you know about or use? Do you think that students in Taiwan will find sites written with simplified characters suitable? Will students in China think that sites written with traditional characters are suitable?

Age matters for sure, teaching the alphabet to kids 5 year olds is different than say 14 year olds, characters and everything....

If a website is targeted toward Taiwan, voice files must be by Taiwanese and a site made in China would not fly here, language does matter.

I have my kids use this site www.englishquest.com.tw it is good for spelling practice, and it's free other than that all sites here are expensive some are $100 US a month to use.....they are run by private schools and you must be a student of their school to get access.

I will comment more later, but localization is key; people meaning parents are not searching for these sites, and they do not search for them in English that is for sure, many American sites although good are not sensitive to cultural matters either......

[kathyfelts]

Thanks for your insight. Could you please talk more about sensitivity to cultural matters? If possible, please include examples.

[dvasas]

Thanks for your insight. Could you please talk more about sensitivity to cultural matters? If possible, please include examples.

Most websites I guess are American based, or non-Asian.

I have seen websites have chopsticks sticking in a bowl which represents death in Taiwan. (this was also in the movie ELF)

I have seen websites that have maps, that include China as a part of Taiwan, a no no if you are marketing to Taiwan.

Many American sites also include only American foods like hamburgers and french fries, and don't include Asian favorites.

Also many sites are in English only.

[kathyfelts]

Thanks for your reply. I have noticed that there is considerable localization in Internet-based study, and I agree that this is both a matter of taste and culture. Twenty years ago, I wrote and co-produced educational TV and video in Taiwan and I remember the first time I saw the layout for the video boxes. The whole aesthetic sense was so different from what I have envisioned.
I hope others will address this topic. Issues of cultural interaction are relativly unexplored in educational CALL, but I am sure they will become seen as very important.

[dvasas]

Thanks for your reply. I have noticed that there is considerable localization in Internet-based study, and I agree that this is both a matter of taste and culture. Twenty years ago, I wrote and co-produced educational TV and video in Taiwan and I remember the first time I saw the layout for the video boxes. The whole aesthetic sense was so different from what I have envisioned.
I hope others will address this topic. Issues of cultural interaction are relativly unexplored in educational CALL, but I am sure they will become seen as very important.

I think over time we will see more localized sites, all sites are quite new now. As of right now I could never refer a student to a site that did not have native language support in terms of voice and text.

If a native English speaker wanted to learn Russian, I would assume they would not go to or even know where to find these sites that are 100% in Russian.....as we would demand English support....it works both ways. I know that allot of hard work goes in these sites, but they must go one step further.....