Connected…

I just came across a great article on Ayesha’s blog called What Makes a Good Kid’s Website?‘ by Idit Harel. This article reminds us of what is important when finding good educational websites for our students to visit. Below are a few points that a website should have if it is to be meaningful:

• Invite kids to make, design, build or create something online? Will the interaction lead to them creating something of their own, whether simple or complex?
• Offer activities that are open-ended? (Here you need to think of paintbrushes and paint, not prerecorded, one-way videos). Can girls and boys with different learning styles and interests find ways to express themselves and bring themselves into the activity?
• Provide enough challenge so that the activities can be used and played again and again? Do the activities include hidden, unexpected and newly added features as the user moves along? In other words, can the site grow with your child and can your child evolve with the site?

This is something which I think is very important and I suggest you read the whole article.

Media Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/56315780@N00/990866224

While reading through an article in TechKnowLogia, I came across another great article. The article focuses on learning websites and ‘how they affect the attainment of learning at various cognitive levels including problem solving, creativity, critical thinking and application’.  Please take some time to have a look at this article, there is no doubt that any one of the sites reviewed in the article will be of some benefit to you in the classroom (Parents, don’t be afraid to use these websites at home too!).