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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

Planning

Production

Presentation

Classroom Management

Interaction

Assessment

 

APPENDICES

Glossary

Sample Assignment for "An Arctic Year" Web Site

Videoconferencing Resources

Sample Assignment for
"An Arctic Year" Web Site

The theme for this Web site project is "An Arctic Year." Think of how you would describe a year in the Arctic. How does this theme relate to you, your family and your village? What happens to the people, animals, and the Arctic environment during the cycle of a year? What significant happenings would you include in describing this annual cycle?

This is your opportunity to communicate to the world the things that happen during the year that you think are important and interesting about living in the Arctic. Remember that the focus of this project is to share what it is like to experience a year in the Arctic. You will share this information and experience with a worldwide audience, and the people of the North Slope, including your parents, community, and fellow students.

Use the "An Arctic Year" Checklist to organize your project.

It is expected that the photos, interviews, and artwork will be original work of the students involved in producing this project. If work is used that is not student work, permission must be obtained to include this work on your site. Remember that you have a wealth of photography, art and knowledge within your school and community. Please explore these resources first.

Your Web site must include:

  • Text
  • Images
  • Links
  • Information about your village
  • Elder interviews
  • Art
  • Poetry/Short Stories or other writing
  • Photography
  • An interface page
  • Credits for the writing, art work, and photographs, etc. that are used
  • Must follow the theme "An Arctic Year."

Before submitting your Web pages and sites, they will be evaluated by you and your teacher using the project rubric and checklist. Your pages and site must meet the acceptable standards as identified in the checklist and rubric for writing, graphics, layout, movement, and content or they will not be published.

An Arctic Year Web Site Checklist

Use this checklist to work through the items you need to do to
complete the "An Arctic Year" Web site project.

Teacher’s Initials

Items that need to be completed

Brainstorm ideas for "An Arctic Year" Web site.

Select topics from the brainstorming activity that you would like to include in your Web site.

Select a Project Manager.

Make a storyboard or Web diagram to organize your ideas.

Work with your project manager as a group to list topics and assignments that
will need to be completed to produce your Web site as you outlined in your storyboard/Web diagram.

The Project Manager will coordinate the assignment of responsibility for the
completion of tasks to be completed in order to and set dead lines.

Students may work individually or in groups to complete the tasks assigned by the Project Manager.

Once students have assigned tasks, they should list everything they will need
to complete their task and begin to collect resource materials, photographs,
interviews, etc.

Your Web site follows the theme "An Arctic Year" as described in project
description.

Remember to use the Rubric and Web Page Check List to proof your pages
before publishing.

Web Page Evaluation Checklist

Writing Checklist

Yes

No

Items to check before you publish your Web page

   

I have used the Spelling Check in Netscape Communicator to proof the spelling on my pages.

   

I have checked the use of "there" and "their" to make sure that this word is used correctly on my page.

   

I have checked to make sure that all sentences begin with a capital letter.

   

I have checked to make sure that all sentences end with the correct punctuation mark.

   

I have checked my page to make sure that the use of plural words and possessives are
correct. I have used (‘s ) (s’) and (s) correctly on my page.

   

I have checked to make sure that I do not use a lower case letter (i) for the pronoun I in my writing.

   

I have checked to make sure that all sentences have a subject and a verb.

   

I have capitalized proper names and the names of areas, such as North Slope Borough,
Eskimo, Beaufort Sea, Arctic, etc.

   

I have checked to make sure that words, such as Chukchi Sea, that may not be in spell check, are spelled and capitalized correctly.

   

I have checked grammar and word usage to make sure that they are correct and contribute to the clarity of what I am trying to communicate.

   

If I use information that I have gained from an interview or another source, (Web site, book) I have given the source credit on my page.

 

Graphics Checklist

Yes

No

Items to check before you publish your Web page

   

The total file size of the graphics on my page is no larger than 75K. I know that every 1K of file size increases the load time of my page.

   

If I link to a larger file size graphic, I have informed the viewer of the file size and I linked to a page that has the graphic and a caption. I have made a page for the graphic and I have not linked to just the graphic file.

   

All images on my page have a caption that provides information about the image and that identifies the person who took the photograph or created the graphic.

   

If I use a graphic on my page from another site, I have asked for permission to use this image and given the source credit for the image on my page.

   

The graphics on my page relate to and enhance the information on my page.

   

I have original graphics on my page.



Design and Layout

Yes

No

Items to check before you publish your Web page

I have a title on my page that informs the viewer what my page is about.

I have organized the information on my page so that the viewer understands what I am trying to communicate.

Background colors and designs contrast with the text color so that it is easy for the viewer to read what I have written.

There is space between the text and images that I have on my page.

The placement and size of the images and graphics on my page supports and improves my communication.

The design of pages relating to the same information (within a site) has a similar look and the links are consistent in look.

The use of font styles and colors contributes to the design of the page.

I have used tables, lists and rule lines to organize the information on the page.

I have used white space effectively (it organizes information and calls attention to writing or images).

I have organized my writing in paragraphs and/or provided space between my paragraphs so that my writing and page appears organized.


Movement

Yes

No

Items to check before you publish your Web page

I provide a way to move to the previous page, the next page and the main page of my site.

The color of my visited links does not disappear into the background of my page.

I provide information for all links that are within my Web site so that the viewers will know something about the site before they choose to visit it.

I use consistent icons for movement within a site.

I am sure that ALL links on my page are working, i.e. ALL links on my page are able to find the files that I have linked to.

Links within my site and movement between my pages are logical.

I informed the viewer of the size of any large file I have linked to.

It does not take longer than a minute for my page to load. If it takes longer than a minute I will check the files size of images, rule lines, etc. to see if I can reduce the file size.

Web Site Rubric

Circle the level number that best describes the site being evaluated for each criterion:
content and theme, navigation, mechanics, and overall impression. [Note: who is doing the evaluating, students or teachers?]

Content and Theme

Level 1

Level 5

Level 10

  • No theme is evident
  • Purpose of the page is unclear or unrelated to the theme.
  • No original material is used
  • Writing is difficult to understand and confused
  • Ideas do not flow logically
  • Graphics are not related to page content
  • Copyrighted graphics are used with no original graphics present
  • Information presented is inaccurate or out of date
  • Theme is evident but mostly unclear
  • Some original writing and graphics are present
  • Writing is understandable but needs revision and organization for clarity
  • Information present is largely accurate and current but is not always clear
  • Graphics show some relation to page content
  • May use some original graphics
  • Theme is clear
  • Purpose of page is clear and relates to the theme.
  • Original content or research is present
  • Writing is clear and holds the readers attention
  • Ideas flow logically
  • Information is accurate, complete and current
  • Graphics enhance page content
  • A variety of graphic editing techniques are evident
  • Original graphics are used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 

Movement

Level 1

Level 5

Level 10

  • Links are unrelated to each other or to page content
  • Too many links which are
    unrelated to the topic
  • Not enough links to support topic
  • Links do not work
  • Navigational text or icons are missing or inconsistent
  • Return links not present
  • Use of hypertext is not present or does not contribute to meaning
  • Pages take too long to load 
  • Links usually contribute to page content
  • Authors rely too heavily on links and not enough on their own research
  • Most links work
  • Return links not always
    provided
  • Navigation is somewhat
    inconsistent or confusing
  • Links relate to theme or
    interest areas and contribute to overall content
  • All links work
  • Navigation is consistent and easily understood
  • Return links are present and consistent
  • Pages are designed and
    optimized to load quickly
  • User retains control over events on the page

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Mechanics

Level 1

Level 5

Level 10

  • No effort to cite resources
  • Copyrighted information is used without permission
  • Primary resources are not used
  • Format is inconsistent and confusing
  • Background textures or colors, if used, conflict with text and render it difficult to read
  • Format and design varies from page to page and contributes to confusion
  • Users are not warned about necessary plug-ins or extensions specific to a particular browser
  • Uses misspelled words
  • Grammar inappropriate for targeted audience 
  • Errors in grammar and word usage are common and affect meaning
  • Most resources are cited but some may have questionable validity
  • Copyright information is present for some pictures or text
  • Some attention has been given to consistency of layout
  • Backgrounds work with text but contribute little to overall page effect
  • Format of different pages is mostly consistent
  • Headers and fonts are used effectively
  • Pages load reasonably quickly
  • Users are advised before downloading material that requires special plug-ins or other capabilities
  • Some misspelled words and grammatical errors, but not enough to distort meaning
  • Copyrighted information is clearly marked with permission to reproduce
  • Valid, primary resources are used
  • Work by others is accurately credited
  • Tables, lists, or frames are used to vary layout
  • Pictures are aligned left and right
  • White space is used effectively
  • Format contributes to the logical flow of information
  • Different pages retain consistency of format
  • Users are advised before downloading material that
    requires specialized plug-ins
  • No spelling or grammatical
    errors
  • Writing is clear and concise
  • Grammar and work usage are correct and contribute to clarity of style

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

 

Overall Impression

Level 1

Level 5

Level 10

  • Communication focus is
    unclear
  • Little evidence of theme is
    present
  • Movement through the site is difficult and confusing
  • Organization is unclear or not evident
  • Images and writing serve little purpose or add to confusion 
  • The theme is evident but focus of site is not clear
  • Images and writing generally support theme
  • Movement through site is
    inconsistent
  • Elements of site do not always work together or support the theme
  • The theme is the dominant feature
  • Well defined and illustrated
  • Well organized and logical
  • Easy movement through site
  • The site is interesting and
    informative
  • Effective communication through images and writing
  • All elements of the site work together to support communication and enhance the site
  • Design is polished and adds to focus and the viewer’s enjoyment

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10


Adapted with permission from the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District’s "Web Page Evaluation,"
http://www.northstar.k12.ak.us/Web/rubric.html.

     

Copyright ©2000 Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory

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