Project Description:
Low vision and blind students partner with sighted peers to write reviews of selected Web sites.
Objectives
Students will research, write and edit
Students will learn about the resources available on the Web
Students will be introduced to computer technology as a tool to create, compose, communicate and publish
Procedures
l. In small groups at the computer, work with students to teach the basics of navigating the Web. As an example, do a basic search of several Web sites.
2. Together with small groups, visit a few sites you have preselected. Explain the basics of using your browser to navigate the Web.
3. Hold a brief discussion. What makes a Web site good or bad? As a class, develop a list of criteria to use in judging the Web sites.
4. Schedule children in 30-minute intervals at the computer with your supervision to visit sites for review. Discuss the contents of the sites with the children as they navigate.
5. Assign children to write reviews of 3 selected sites each. The reviews must include:
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A. A brief description of the contents of the site
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B. An evaluation of the site
6. Exchange reviews with other teams
7. With your supervision, have the children visit interesting-sound sites reviewed by other teams in the classroom. Do they agree with the reviews ?
8. Collect all of the reviews and create a directory for your school of interesting Web sites that are handicapped accessible: Distribute your directory to all teachers.
9. Publish the results on the school Web site.
10. Have the students create an assessment tool for reviewing the sites.
Discuss:Is the site easy to use? Is it interesting? Easy to navigate? Does it follow the guidelines for accessibility set by the National Federation of the Blind?
Subject: Computer technology, language arts
Grade level: Grades 7 -12
Time frame:
Week 1-2-- Teach about the Web
Week 3-4-- Develop assessment tools
Week 4-5-- Research sites and write reviews
Week 5-6-- Create directory and Web site
How students will benefit:
Students will learn to analyze a web site to determine how user-friendly the site is for blind and visually impaired users.
Requirements:
All participants must: Critically examine a web site and write a discussion of the site.
Materials Needed: Computers with Web access
Children's Resources:
Online Kids A Young Surfer's Guide To Cyberspace, Preston Gralla, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, l996.
Homepage An Introduction to Web Page Design, Christopher Lampton, Grolier Publishing, New York, l997.
Dave's Quick 'n' Easy Web Pages, Dave Lindsay, Bruce Lindsay, Erin Publications, Calgary, Canada, l999
Teacher Resources: Net Lessons: Web-Based Projects for Your Classroom, Laura Parker Roerden