Website Evaluations Jennelle Kesteloot (Richie) Madonna University RDG 5410

Website #1

How Could I Use This With… Students –Engagement, creativity, ELA, visual learning Parents –Open house, blog, themed units, project-based learning Other Teachers –Professional development, workshops, grade level meetings Community –Facebook (class page), blog, colleagues

Ease of Use This website is very easy to use. The directions are in English (not alien) and there are many ways to make it your own. It walks you through each step and explains what everything does.

Cost Features Basic Free Educator $10/month Professional $50/month Online Movie Maker  Xtranormal Desktop  Actors and SetsPurchased Individually Included Premium Web Servies Pay Per UseUnlimited Use Kid Friendly Environment  Admin Tools for Teachers  Actor CustomizationOnly Colors Full White Label Videos  Commercial Licensing Rights 

Flexibility of Design Every time you create a movie, you get to choose the scene, actors, and the script along with motions and sounds. Every movie can be different and set in a different place. There are many different characters to choose from.

Security The website recommends that the users are 13 and older. To sign in, you need a user name and password.

Ability to Correct Mistakes Listen –Listen to your latest dialogue changes Preview –Generate a full-motion preview Save –Take a break and come back later Publish –Check out and post your movie online

Can You Add Media? You can’t add your own media such as sound, pictures, etc. You have to use what the website has available to you.

Website #2

How Could I Use This With… Students –Simulation learning in the classroom (science and math) Parents –Additional resources at home (extending what we learned in school) Other Teachers –Workshops, co-teaching, different grade levels Community –Blog with new ideas and what we are working on in the classroom

Ease of Use This website is broken down by grade level (elementary, middle, high, and university). For the simulations, there is an intro, lab, and game. There is “support” in the intro so the learner can comprehend the material before letting the support go.

Cost PhET provides fun, interactive, research- based simulations of physical phenomena for free.

Flexibility of Design For the simulations, there is some flexibility due to the manipulation of the materials. For example, in Balancing Act, the user moves the objects around on the screen and tries to balance out the scale.

Security You can create a login with your address and password, but it is not required to explore the site or to use the sims. With the registered user, you can opt to receive newsletters four times a year.

Ability to Correct Mistakes During the intro of the simulations, you can see if your manipulations “work” or not. This is for the user to explore and understand the concept before heading to the game area.

Can You Add Media? Like the first site, you cannot add your own music, video, or pictures. The simulations are already set up with the predetermined objects for the users to use (based on the concept).

Website #3

How Could I Use This With… Students –Use their pictures to tell stories Parents –Messages from their children at school Other Teachers –Brighten their day, fun moments Community –Blog, district about upcoming events, activities, and projects

Ease of Use Very easy to use. Upload your own photo and select the type of recording you want (pre- recorded file, microphone, or phone).

Cost Blabberize is free for users to explore and have fun.

Flexibility of Design There is flexibility in that the user chooses the picture that he/she wants to use as well as the audio file. There are no pre-selected pictures to choose from with this website.

Security Users are recommended to be 13 years or older to use this site. When you sign in with your user name and password, it allows you to see what you have previously made, things you like, and your friends (part of a social network).

Ability to Correct Mistakes With this website, the audio that is used is either pre-recorded on the computer, with a microphone, or off a cell phone. Because you are using your own audio, you can go back and re-record your message.

Can You Add Media? Unlike the first two websites, YES you can add media! The user will add his/her own picture and audio file.

Overview The three sites that I chose to evaluate can be used at multiple grade levels, in the classroom and at home. I had fun exploring all the different links and activities on the sites; I can’t wait to introduce them to my class.

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