Evaluate Software and Hardware Tools

Evaluate Software and Hardware Tools Used for Instructional Purposes

By: Emily Overby

URL: http://www1.american.edu/IRVINE/eval.html

Description: This website discusses how the use of technology and computers in the classroom should not be the only methods teachers use. Through the use of different types of strategies for testing out these programs like talking with other educators or testing it with students the teachers are able to see if the tested program is viable for the objectives. Along with this the website also presented actual steps for teachers to use when analyzing programs.

Opinion: I found this website to be very helpful when it comes to evaluating software for instructional purposes. It gave you not only a worksheet but a fourteen step process to work through to see if the program is viable. Along with graphs and a brief explanation of the purpose this website is an overall helpful aid in this process.

 

URL: http://www.thejeo.com/Archives/Volume3Number1/DePaoloFinal.pdf

Description: This website describes web-based survey software and tells of the advantages of using them. This website creates a clear and easy process of how to create one and the different methods of doing so. The website states that web-based surveys help enhance the lesson along with creating a better communication between the students and teacher.

Opinion: I found this website to also be helpful when it comes to creating and presenting surveys in your classroom. This website gave a list of other website where you can create surveys along with charts and descriptions of this task. It is also organized perfectly so you have no problem finding what information you need.

 

URL: http://www.childrenssoftware.com/evaluation.html

Description: This website is an overall article that presents the problem of too much software to choose from and how evaluation of the software is needed to enhance this important aspect of education. The website goes into the history of evaluating software and the problems and advancements that have happened. It also tells in detail what software is and the reasons why it is important to evaluate it.

Opinion: I found this article to be interesting and helpful when understanding how to evaluate interactive programs. This article went into great details and presented lots of different facts. It correlated perfectly with my article I reviewed and would help any teacher understand this matter better.