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Writing in the Digital Age--Class Web Critiques

These critiques were written before UM-St. Louis went to the present My Gateway system. Now, all critiques will be placed on the discussion board. Unfortunately, these new critques will disappear after the semester.

Example # 1

Ruth Bresnahan

The Dynamical Systems and Technology Project at Boston University

http://math.bu.edu/DYSYS/dysys.html

Overall: A-

Content: A- Great links but some parts of the page are in progress

Aesthetics: B- Simple design, links are in color..nothing special but it is easy to read and follow.

Organization: A Again, easy to follow and get back to the main page.

Review: This web page is for those of you interested in math and even if you are not, there is a link to 'Fractal Movies' which has great color and animation. It's neat to see even if you don't know what a fractal is (so try the site and see what they are!) This site is great for an introductory lesson to fractals. Also, the Mandlebrot Set is discussed, based on a quadratic equation so this is awesome material suitable for a an Algebra 2 class. It wasn't a super-duper wowzer type of site but did provide some great information. I strongly recommend the fractal movies!

Example # 2

Juliet Lilledahl

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educator's

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/index.html

A+ overall rating

A+ on Content: Useful information for teachers, parents, and students regarding various content areas and grade levels.

A+ on Aesthetics: Colorful, yet not distracting, plenty of spacing.

A+ on Organization: Three tabs at top: Teachers, Students, Parents.

Basically, only 7 main categories on front page - makes further searching easier. Reader is not inundated/overwhelmed with options.

Review: Published by the technology coordinator for a regional school district in Massachusetts. Has an all-encompassing list of content areas with further links to related sites outside. These vary in purpose, but I found the Literature/Language Arts site to be extremely useful for all levels providing links for online quizzes, literature sites, and tutorials.

Schrock's website also had useful teacher tools, such as: online Fry Readability Graph, free slideshows, and assessment & rubric information. I like the site because it is easy to utilize and seems to have endless information, grouped by content area, that I can seemingly peruse forever.

I've already linked in to some areas for my website, and I like that Kathy Schrock is reachable by e-mail, etc., as well.

Example # 3

Diane Tinucci

Site Name: Hyperizons

URL: http://www.duke.edu/~mshumate/hyperfic.html

CONTENT: B-A rich compilation of description and example of literary hypertext marred only but substantially by its dated nature having been last updated in 1997 but with most information from 1995 and earlier.

AESTHETICS: B-A straight column list of links, no graphics, tight spacing, and the link categories duplicated in a table above.

ORGANIZATION: A-Material clearly and logically categorized, with many but not all links reaching either explanation, criticism or example of hypertext.

OVERALL: B

Review: Hyperizons is devoted to Micheal Shumate's on-line "writing and researching and thinking about hypertext fiction" and he has collected original examples, articles of theory and criticism, and examples of "hypertextized" classics such as Sense and Sensibility and Frankenstein to illustrate the richness of the art. An introduction invites site visitors to either educate themselves through formal study of the articles or to "simply start reading a few works {as}artists always outstrip their would-be definers."As the site was last updated in 1997, it is understandable that multiple links are broken. Enough is intact to provide a rich understanding of the nature, theory, and art of hypertext in explanation, criticism and example.

Example # 4

Diane Tinucci

Success Link http://www.successlink.org

CONTENT A (Rich and growing collection of lesson plans submitted by Missouri teachers.)

AESTHETICS A (Bright and attractive, graphics engage rather than intrude)

ORGANIZATION B (Various plans are featured each month. Plan archive growing quickly and needs subdivision and reorganization.)

OVERALL A-

Review: Success Link is a Missouri based site funded to collect and publish lesson plan ideas from and for Missouri teachers. It requires complete lesson information (including assessment instrument) from submitting teachers but offers the possibility of a hundred dollar monthly prize to the ten best ideas sent in. Teachers can also receive credit from Northwest Missouri State for submission of ideas and reflective exercises.

A relevant bonus is that lessons are correlated to Missouri Show-Me standards. The site manager is working to reorganize the presentation of the lessons; right now, for example, all language arts ideas are grouped together and one has to peruse all titles to find one that is relevant.