Forum+-+Website+Evaluation+(for+secondary+students)

by [|Liudmyla Klymenko] - Sunday, 9 October 2011, 05:29 PM || [|Reply] || by [|Raisa Istomina] - Sunday, 9 October 2011, 07:49 PM || - Easy to use: Just choose an item and work with it. Also students can see the same extract as many times as they need. - Audience and relevance: We know that the site is aimed at children. If the levels of students are different they both can listen and read on the screen the text (It's a good support.) - Educational focus: not explicit. - Accuracy and acceptance: Is based on opinion. Grammar is correct. The links are valid. - Authority and coverage: I don't know.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2043/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Liudmyla Klymenko" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2043&course=2"]] || Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || What did you think of the sites listed for secondary (and adult) students? Leave your comments in this thread.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2040/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Raisa Istomina" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2040&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || BBC Learningenglish: "The Flatmates"

Wikipedia - Ease of use; - Accuracy and acceptance; - Authority and coverage;

Plan Planet "Meet the Kids" - Ease of use; - educational focus; -Audience and relevance; - accuracy and acceptance

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Tetyana Yarmysh] - Monday, 10 October 2011, 12:39 PM || BBC Schools- accurate information and lots of resourses on various subjects. Learners and teachers of English can find many useful activities to develop reading, writing and speaking skills though lesson plans are for the UK teachers. Children BBC- aimed more at entertainment rather than learning or teaching English. You can easily be distracted by ads. [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Natalia Kolotova] - Tuesday, 11 October 2011, 01:45 AM || great for tertiary Ss (although there is a special section that can be used for younger ones), content is reliable, language of the articles is adorable, educational focus could not be more explicit, the site is well structured, contains a search facility and a **dictionary** (with entries pronounced by native speakers), material can easily be downloaded/ e-mailed and edited, information can be verified in 30+ bands of annually updated hard copy of Britannica, but ... can sometimes be amazing. Check this: [] , the author (contributor), editor, publsher, etc. can easily be identified and contacted, links to up-to-date information are provided, overall - a reliable reference. (Although I found **Encarta** thousand times more gripping, more interesting, up-to-date and exciting. The only thing is - they stopped publishing e-version of it in 2009.) [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Natalia Kolotova] - Tuesday, 11 October 2011, 01:38 AM || information appears to be accurate, although there may be some difficulties with verifying it from other sources, the author can be contacted (through comments, ar least), aimed at adults so some information can be controversial, focus is probably not on education but on practical DIY, the tapescript is provided for every clip (or at least for most of them), which makes it very convenient both for teachers (to identify key vocabulary, prepare pre-listening/ pre-watching exercises, etc.) and for Ss (can spare efforts of decyphering words from hearing). Huge disadvantage is that material cannot be downloaded (or at least I failed to do so). [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Angela Moninets] - Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 12:32 AM || Exploratorium is an amazing site as well. There is a great deal of downloadable material both for listening and reading with follow up activities. Plan Planet is good to get acquainted with people. It is cool that Ss. can leave their comments there. But I didn't find the games very educational, there was no English itself. Yahho! Kids is loaded with things, but the games do not help your learn English. I wish there were subtitles for some video material. The good thing is a student can contribute by writing a question to Earl. The section Studyzone is really good. Videojug has to much of advertising, that distorted me too much. And even the videos start with Ukrainian advertising. The language of the video is quite comprehensible for secondary students though. Oxfam educational resources is a must for teachers. Numerous materials to download concern various aspects of life. Hero machine did not appeal much to me. The layout is not attractive, it made me recoil. [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Natalia Kolotova] - Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 11:47 PM || [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Angela Nikishina] - Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 08:21 PM || Children's BBC News The information seems to be accurate,based on opinion.It can be verified from other online sources.The content was dated and recently updated.For some reason some links were working only for the UK users.It was not clear who the authors or publishers were or how to contact them.I liked games, things to do,animals links.There were no ads popping up like in U-tube that I really liked. East of the Web I found the possibilities of this site a bit limited: a selection of stories though of different genres,games and interactive links where the authors can be contacted.There are links to other websites. [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Angela Nikishina] - Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 11:28 PM || I like their "good at life approach".I think it can be suitable for secondary and adult students.The contents of the videos can be used on different topics.The authors of the videos are unknown.There are links and reference to other material.Some topics (for example,in Love and dating section)are not quite acceptable
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2041/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Tetyana Yarmysh" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2041&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || Exploratorium -lots of resourses on science, can hardly be useful for English language teachers.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2036/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Natalia Kolotova" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2036&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || **//Britannica//** -
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2036/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Natalia Kolotova" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2036&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || **Video Jug**-
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2027/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="teacher" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2027&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || The BBC school website is an interesting site where kids might not only study English, but also revise other subjects. It is pretty challenging as one needs to know the definitions of things from various subjects in English. It is a good example of cross curriculum studying. It has downloadable material. It might came handy for both teachers and students. We can find a wide range of activities for both primary learners and secondary students.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2036/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Natalia Kolotova" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2036&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || Whether a teacher can download material or not seems to be crucial for the choice of resources [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/theme/britcounv3_nav/pix/s/mixed.gif caption="mixed"]]
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2028/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Angela Nikishina" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2028&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || I had a look at the following sites:
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2028/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Angela Nikishina" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2028&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || Video Jug

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Nataly Katsaran] - Thursday, 13 October 2011, 01:04 AM || regularly uploading new files, videos can be watched on-line or downloaded, all links work || The information area is OK, based on experts’ opinion, regularly adding new files (but I can’t fine the dates of uploading), everything is arranged in on-line service. || The information seems to be accurate, mostly based on the experts’ opinions, regularly uploading new files, possilbility of updates. Video and other materials can be seen on-line or downloaded from the site. All links work, but not many files yet. || Educational areas covers the most of site’s space, no advertising, links to other projects of this organization. ||
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2038/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Nataly Katsaran" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2038&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || ||  Criteria   ||   Site 1   ||   Site2   ||   Site3   ||
 * URL address  ||   []   ||   []   ||   []   ||
 * Accuracy and acceptance || The information seems to be accurate, mostly based on the experts’ opinions ,
 * Authority and coverage || There is an address of the Videojug corporation limited. The site is told to be run by video experts, but no verified documents are presented. It covers all life aspects and gives a great piece of advice for people who wants to learn society, psychology, technology. A little advertising doesn’t influence the content. || Yahoo corporation, a lot of links to other Yahoo sites. Qualified experts give their advice on children’s problems (10 %). The areas it covers are music, games, movies (80%), studying zone (10%). Adverts of Yahoo on-line events. || Run by charity organization with given address and phone contacts. The coordinators of the project cam be also contacted by e-mailing.
 * Audience and relevance || The site is mostly intended for native speakers, adults, some videos present only essential information and are boring. Comments to every video are welcomed, but you need registration. || Aimed for native speakers, mostly children up to 16 and their parents. More entertaining than educating. Games are easy and sometimes even boring (for me)!!! || Aimed for educators who speak or teach English with children from 6 to 16+ . Lessons plans, teaching ideas, articles on professional development. The material is relevant and interesting, sometimes even exciting. ||
 * Educational focus || A very few videos can be used for watching in class || A good idea- “Asking Earl” where you can find answers about school, nature, sport, technologies. No language area is presented. Good sound and rich colours. || The materials can be used for teachers’ planning, some videos can be watched in class. But learners can do very little with it in class. ||
 * Ease of use || Good navigation, search bar, selection on topics, dates and popularity || Good navigation, search bar, quick loading, no comments field. Too many pictures and movements ( the eyes started to hurt after 5 min) || Easy navigation without pictures, but attractive design helps those who is looking for something interesting. ||
 * Personal impressions || Good site to watch staff, but not for education. || Good site for entertaining, unlikely to be used in class || I like the material about bananas including the lesson plans, PPT presentation. Good idea to use it for reading skills’ practice ||
 * Mark (10 points-top score to be used for the educational purposes) ||  2   ||   4   ||   8   ||

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] by [|Liudmyla Klymenko] - Saturday, 15 October 2011, 05:20 AM || [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Raisa Istomina] - Sunday, 16 October 2011, 01:16 AM || - not clear when update || - reputable company - I don't know if the information is accurate || - information is accurate, reliable. || - has authority || - there are resources on different topics || - number of resources. - no advertizing || - reading skill should be very good to get info || Teacher's speech is to fluent and not always comprehensible. Then what should a teacher in class do with such activity? How to integrate? || - aimed at raising awareness of general notions. - no advice how to use for teaching English. || - easy to operate || - loads quickly - the site is not very attractive in design || - loads quickly; -no problems with searching; -technicaly stable || ( Edited by [|Liudmyla Klymenko] - original submission Saturday, 15 October 2011, 12:40 PM ) [|Show parent] | [|Reply] by [|Irina Dygal] - Saturday, 15 October 2011, 02:09 PM || Yahoo kids. Cartoons are more interesting for junior pupils. They will eagerly watch the vcideos, which are quite easy to comprehend. Phonetic focus. A good way to improve the pronunciation for both primary and secondary Ss. It's very easy to use.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2043/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Liudmyla Klymenko" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2043&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2043/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Liudmyla Klymenko" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2043&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || What a great job, Nat! Anybody to follow the suit?
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2040/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Raisa Istomina" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2040&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || ||  Criteria   ||   Site 1   ||   Site2   ||   Site3   ||
 * URL address  || Plan Planet "Planet: Wherte in the word' ||   BBC Learning english "The Teacher" -- your idioms (video)   ||   [|Britannica Kids Apps]   ||
 * Accuracy and acceptance || - info based on facts;
 * Accuracy and acceptance || - info based on facts;
 * Authority and coverage || - different links provided;
 * Audience and relevance || -10-13-year-olds
 * Educational focus || - a lot of info appropriate for Geogrophy class, but not English language teaching. || - it's not supportive for learners with different learning styles || - the info helps with homework, exams and projects ||
 * Ease of use || - instruction is clear
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2030/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Irina Dygal" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2030&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2030/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Irina Dygal" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2030&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || VideoJug. Lots of videos connected to real life. It's great for secondary Ss. Easy to use.

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Myroslava Loboiko] - Saturday, 15 October 2011, 05:32 PM ||
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2035/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Myroslava Loboiko" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2035&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || ||  ||  **Children’s BBC News**  ||  **VideoJug.com**  ||  **Exploratorium**  ||
 * **Accuracy & Acceptance** || - information appears to be accurate;

- is based on facts;

- the content dated;

-all links are up-to-date and valid; || - a library of free factual videos;

- some videos seem to be inacceptable. || - it’s an ongoing exploration of science, art, and human perception;

- a vast collection of online interactive, activities, features and events that feed your curiosity;

- the content is dated; ||
 * **Authority & Coverage** || -no problem to find the information about the authority;

-contains some entertainment; || -factual and learning resources of the digital media company;

- lots of adverts. || - the contact information is given;

- provides links and references to other materials;

- contain some advertising ||
 * **Audience & Relevance** || - teenagers, students of higher educational establishments, teachers;

-the content is relevant || - teenagers, students of higher educational establishments, teachers;

- helps people to “get good at life”

- the content is not relevant for promotion to use it in the classroom. || -teenagers, students of higher educational establishments, teachers;

-the content is relevant ||
 * **Educational Focus** || -not specially designed for English language teaching;

-provides video news;

-encourages students to improve reading & listening skills; || -not specially designed for English language teaching;

- partially focused on university students: academic, study skills, and life skills. || -not specially designed for English language teaching;

-encourages students to practise their knowledge ||
 * **Ease of use** || - easy to navigate;

- is attractive in design;

-contains a search facilities;

-loads quickly || - easy to navigate; || -well structured;

-takes time to find relevant information;

- contains a search facility; ||

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] by [|Oksana Choban] - Sunday, 16 October 2011, 11:46 PM || Criteria Site 1: BBC Learning English Site 2: Oxfam Education Site 3: Plan Planet Accuracy & Acceptance - Information is based on facts; - additional references are given; - the spelling and grammar are correct; - links are up-to-date; - based on facts; - the content is not dated; Authority & Coverage - has different links; - has authority; - the author and the publisher are clear; - the material is not biased; - the author can be contacted; - the site owner is an organization (.org); - does not contain any advertising; Audience & Relevance - especially for senior pupils; - the content is easy to read; - there are age ranges; - information is easy and useful; - easy to read and understand; - the content is relevant; - useful material; Educational Focus - mostly for students, adults and teachers; - there are a lot of different topics for different age groups that can be used at the English lessons; - there are a lot of information for country studying;
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2039/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Oksana Choban" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2039&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2039/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Oksana Choban" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2039&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/theme/britcounv3_nav/pix/f/word.gif link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/file.php/2/moddata/forum/18/37214/Criteria.doc"]] [|Criteria.doc]

Easy of Use - quick loading; - site map; - technically stable; - has a search facility; - site map; - attractive design; - an easy-to-use format; - has a search facility;

[|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Natalia Kolotova] - Sunday, 16 October 2011, 11:51 PM || [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Liudmila Ariutova] - Thursday, 20 October 2011, 11:25 PM || [|Show parent] | [|Reply] || by [|Liudmyla Klymenko] - Monday, 5 December 2011, 01:44 AM || you've examined and commented on the following web sites for secondary learners:|| * BBC Schools
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2036/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Natalia Kolotova" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2036&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || **BBC Learning English**
 * audience and relevance**- aimed at professionals and international learners of English, created by professionals, easy to understand and navigate,
 * educational focus**- contains variety of exercises, therefore suitable for learners with different learning styles,
 * ease of use** - contains downloadable material, as well as special section for teachers, detailed site map
 * accuracy and acceptance** - links up-to-date and valid, information can easily be verified from other sources,
 * authority and coverage**- quality material with links and ideas how to use it (great time saver!)
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2034/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Liudmila Ariutova" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2034&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || LearningEnglish is a wonderful tool for students . Colorful, full of different information, lots of appropriate material, easy to use, variety of topics both for students and teachers. Can be strongly recommended.
 * [[image:http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/pix.php/2043/f2.jpg width="35" height="35" caption="Picture of Liudmyla Klymenko" link="http://courses.britishcouncil.org/pub/learningtechnologies/user/view.php?id=2043&course=2"]] || Re: Websites evaluation - for secondary students
 * || Dear All,
 * BBC learningenglish
 * Children's BBC News
 * Video Jug
 * Hero Machine
 * Exploratorium
 * Yahoo! Kids || * East of the Web
 * Britannica
 * Oxfam educational resources
 * British Council LearnEnglish Kids
 * Plan Planet
 * Wikipedia ||

and almost unanimously found them reliable, relevant and practical for ESL learning and teaching. The opinions differ on the Video Jug and Hero Machine in terms of the content relevance and ease of use. The YouTube website has been left unattended, although it is well worth being paid attention to.