Evaluating Educational Resources W301

What are Educational Resources?  There are many kinds of resources available to you: –Productivity Resources are tools that you can use in lesson planning and grading to make you a more efficient teacher  For example, gradebook software, lesson plan engines, and worksheet generators –Educational Resources are software and web resources that you can use actively with your students

Educational Resources Formats  Educational Resources can come in a variety of forms: –Websites that are designed for use by your students –Software products that you can use in your classroom –Hardware/Tools that you can use in your classroom

Why Evaluate These Resources?  Just because resources are “published” - either by a software company or by an individual - does not mean they are appropriate for classroom use  To help you focus on the main points with educational resources, we are going to ask three questions…

 Is the resource Accurate ?  Is the resource Appropriate ?  Is the resource Aligned with state content standards?

Accurate  Is the information current?

Accurate  Is the information accurate?

Accurate  Who is the author? –Does the author have expertise related to the content? –Does the author project bias? –Is the author a teacher?

Appropriate  What is the intended grade level and content area for the resource? –Is the reading level appropriate? –Does the content provide enough detail regarding the topic?

Appropriate  Is the use of media appropriate? –Do things load well? –Do they not distract or detract from the content?

Appropriate  Is the resource designed to be used BY students?

Aligned  Is the resource aligned to state standards? Or can it be?

Aligned  A resource itself may only present an opportunity for alignment, based on how you use it.

Aligned  Does the resource give the opportunity to foster skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and reading?

Lets Look at an Example   Accurate?  Appropriate?  Aligned?

Now Look at other examples..  Accurate?  Appropriate?  Aligned?   

Resources  Bert is evil image  Czechoslovakia map  One Laptop Per Child image  Indiana Social Studies Standards image is edited from a screen capture I made of Toshiba Helmet image