One Step Further (ICT Integration)

ICT resources for science teachers

Evaluating a web resource

In this activity you will review a science website of your choice and produce a short report to share with your group and other science teachers. You will also learn to be more critical of the information you find on websites.

It is very useful to be able to save websites and view them offline, so as to keep phone costs down. If you need help on this, please consult the tip sheet on saving websites.

By the end of this activity you could achieve the following outcomes:

- Evaluate a science website
- Evaluate the quality of an online learning resource
- Identify the curriculum relevance of a resource

2 hours

Follow these steps to complete these activities. Look for contexts that are meaningful to you in your classroom.

	Description	Resources
1	Work in pairs(60 min) Browse to or search for a maths teaching resource on the Web. Open the web site evaluation tool and evaluate the online web resource. This form will help you assess the quality of the website generally. To assist your understanding consult the resources on purpose, credibility, accuracy and bias. In the comments box at the end of the form, include comments on: What you think you can do with the resources in a classroom? Why you think the resources are reliable and suitable for classroom use?	» Click here for a list of science teaching websites » Click here for the website evaluation tool » Read more on the purpose of a web site » Read more on the credibility of a web site » Read more about accuracy of information » Read more about Detecting bias » Click here to see how to search for web sites
2	Remain in pairs (30 minutes) Evaluate the resource as a science teaching and learning tool by applying the principles of OBE as evaluation criteria	» Click here to evaluate outcomes-based principles
3	Meet as a class (15 minutes) Share the locations and recommendations of the best online science resources that you have evaluated Draw up a list of website resources for maths teachers that you may find useful now or at a later stage
4	Work on your own (15 minutes) Review the list of science resources and identify how the best of these may help you to achieve learning outcomes and assessment standards.
5	Community of teachers Join the Partners in Learning Network and find a community of teachers online.	» Go to the Partners in Learning Network

Recommended next activity:

» Trying out science software