Julie+Brichta


 * Software Evaluation:**

We did Intellitools Math from the [|Intellitools suite software].

Intellimath is a mathematics software program that can be used for a variety of different age levels. The entire Intellitools Suite costs $300.00 and can be run on a variety of different operating systems. The program is published by the Cambium Learning Technologies Company. Within the Intellimath program itself there are many different exercises, games, simulations, and drills that can be performed by students.
 * Software Evaluation Critique**

Upon first glance the program can seem confusing and cluttered but once one reads the user’s manual he or she will find very explicit directions. The manual gives specific lesson plans, modifications, extensions, internet resources, objectives, and standards.

The student is given options of a variety of different skills to practice; these include fractions, fractions as a part of the whole, addition, counting and number sense, problem solving, and observing real life as it relates to mathematics. The programs are flexible and can be adapted for a variety of different age levels. For example, within the fraction section, some of the problems can be used for students just learning about fractions and some of them are more advanced and can be applied to real life situations. Another positive quality the program has is the fact that many of the lessons are very colorful and could keep a student engaged for longer periods of time. Many of the problems involve animals which may also be entertaining for students of many different age levels.

The primary function that the program serves is to provide students with a multi sensory learning experience that will entertain them as well as teach. Rather than just writing problems on a sheet of paper, the program is of a more participatory nature. Students are able to move objects and animals on the screen, punch in numbers, create fractions, and make mathematical observations about the world around them. In general, Intellimath is a far more interactive activity than simply computing problems on a sheet of paper. Another advantage to using this program is the fact that there is a lot of support available if one runs into a problem. The Cambium Learning Technologies website is extremely supportive, offers helpful suggestions and provides much information. Within the program, students have the ability to save their work which will enable them to improve in a more streamlined and efficient fashion.

As stated above, upon first use the program can be slightly confusing. Some of the games and drill practices are setup in such a way that a student and may not be sure where to click or type to solve the problem. There are certain frames that are meant to be typed in and others that are not; this can be confusing as well, but reading the user’s manual can help clear up much of this confusion. Despite these few drawbacks, Intellimath can be both educational and enjoyable for a wide variety of students.

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 * Website evaluation:**

For my Website evaluation I chose to evaluate the National Center for Learning Disabilities Website.

Here is a link to the [|NCLD Home Page]

I chose to evaluate the National Center for Learning Disabilities website for my website evaluation project. The site is [|www.ncld.org], which is a nonprofit organization. This site has many positive aspects, but also has areas in which it could be improved.

There were many aspects of this website that were impressive. One aspect that stood out was the amount of information it provided. The site is geared towards parents, teachers, students, and anyone who would like more information about learning disabilities. The vocabulary is user friendly so that the intended audience will not have trouble understanding the pages. There are several links that are clearly labeled so that someone coming to the site can choose a link to get more information on a specific topic. Also, the website is updated daily, so the information on the page is always current.

I was particularly impressed with the section titled “Living with a disability grades 9 and above”. This section gave information for teens, those transitioning into college, and adults living with a learning disability. Another area of interest was the section on RTI (Response to Intervention). It explains what RTI is, gives the latest information on RTI, has links to other sites, and even has a place where users can post their thoughts on different aspects of RTI. Another positive aspect of this site was contained in the About Us section. This part of the website is very detailed and includes a comprehensive mission statement, a list of the board of directors, a list of the professional advisory board, links to annual reports, programs, and a “contact us” section. This information was informative and it gives the site good credibility.

The site appears to run well. All the links work without a problem. With the exception of the home page, every page can be put into “print only” format for easy readability, PDF format, or can be emailed to others. Every page has a quick link back to the “home” page, so that users can get back to that page very easily.

While this website has many positive aspects, there are also areas in which it could be further developed or improved upon. One thing that struck me when I first went to the site was the amount of colors used on the home page. This made the page difficult to read in some instances. Although this website has a wealth of information, there are such a high number of links on the home page and other pages that it can be overwhelming to users. This can make the website seem too busy.

According to the Webexact scan, this site only passes the first level of accessibility. The home page, which is an important page, can not be made into “print only” format. When a user hovers their mouse over pictures on this website, no text appears which causes a problem in access for some. The pages use consistent text throughout, however there is not an option to change the size of the font on the page. This could be helpful for users who may need text to be bigger in order to read it. There is also not an option to change the colors and contrast. This can also be useful in terms of readability.

Overall, I think the National Center for Learning Disabilities is a very good website for a large audience. It provides users with a great deal of valuable information, and even opportunities to share their own thoughts. With a few of the accessibility issues fixed, this site would be even better for anyone interested in gaining knowledge on learning disabilities.

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 * K-12 Project: Where The Wild Things Are**