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Evaluation of Instructional
Webpage
The following is an evaluation of the website listed
below. I explored the site and tested its usability and potential
applications to the learning environment.

Title: Mr.
Rogers' Neighborhood website
Manufacturer: PBS
Hardware required: Windows 95 or better
Program type: Educational webpage
| I. Instructional Design and Pedagogical
Soundness |
- Presentation on screen contains nothing that misleads or confuses
students
- Readability and difficulty are at an appropriate level for students
who will use it
- Comments to students are not abusing or insulting
- Graphics fulfill important purpose and are not distracting to
students
- High degree of control over presentation rate
- High degree of interactivity
- Low quotient of violence or combat-type activities
- More of a play and exploration website, little tutorial and
instructional content
- Graphics colorful but small, sometimes hard to read words
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| II. Content |
- No grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors on the screen
- Exhibits a sensitive treatment of moral and/or social issues
- Very helpful parent's corner; offers suggestions for handling
complex issues, such as divorce
- Next to each activity a lightbulb gives explanation of educational
and moral benefits of activity
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| III. User Flexibility |
- User normally has some control of movement within the website
- Cannot turn off sound through website
- Interface is easy to use
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| IV. Technical Soundness |
- Website loads consistently
- Website does what the screen says it will do
- Animations, sounds, and videos work well and are informative
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| V. Decision |
- Content appropriate for targeted age group
- Best if child is accompanied by parent since parental-oriented
information also on most screens
- Highly recommended to visit
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Maryland
Teacher Technology Standards
| Outcomes |
Indicators |
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Information
Access, Evaluation, Processing, and Application
Access,
evaluate, and process information efficiently and effectively.
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1. Evaluate
information critically
and competently for a specific
purpose.
2.
Organize,
categorize, and store
information for efficient retrieval.
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Integrating
Technology into the Curriculum and Instruction
Design,
implement and assess learning experiences that incorporate use of
technology in the curriculum-related instructional activity to support
understanding, inquiry, problem-solving, communication or
collaboration.
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1. Evaluate technology materials
and media to determine their
most appropriate instructional
use.
2. Assess students’
learning/
instructional needs to identify
the appropriate technology for
instruction.
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Instructional Software Evaluation Checklist adapted from course textbook Roblyer, M.D. & Edwards, J., (2000). Integrating
Educational Technology into Teaching (Third Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall.
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