Technology Assessment #2-Tool Assessment

            Over the last decade, web tools have changed drastically.  Educators need to get out of their comfort zone and enhance their teaching strategies through the use of the web tools that are available such Google Map, Bing, Chrome, Google wonder wheel, and more.  These web tools have made life easier through a click on the computer.  However, Kathleen Schrock, a Director of Technology for the Nauset Public Schools on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, have provided an evaluation titled Critical Evaluation Of A Web Site: Web Sites for use By Educators on the Discovery school website.  So when using any web tool, there are factors to evaluate it such as technical content, authority, and pedagogy (Schrock, 2006).

            First factor, Schrock (2006) discussed that technical content is essential for any web tool.   Some questions listed in Schrock’s evaluation: Does the page take a long time to load?  Do any pictures or photographs on the page add to the information?  When was it created?  Is it updated?  Take for example, WolframAlpha, which is a computational knowledge engine (Wolfram Alpha, 2010, pp. 1). 



This search engine loads swiftly.  It provides adequate information needed for a research or for personal enrichment for any student or educator.  Bing and Lycos are web tools that serve as search engines.  On Bing, the homepage gives an option to turn off or on the picture that is displayed.  The picture displayed allows you explore it by pointing your mouse on any of the four hotspots.  By doing so, it gives information about the image.  Lycos goes one step higher by providing an image for each website after a search has been inputted.  As for Google Chrome, it is a new faster web browser that allows searching from the address bar.  These four web tools are updated.

            Secondly, authority is another factor to evaluate any web tool (Schrock, 2006).  Who created the page?   Is the page biased?  Search engines such as Lycos (Lycos, 2010, pp. 1), Bing (Bing, 2010, pp. 1), Google Chrome (Google Chrome, 2010, pp. 1), and WolframAlpha (WolframAlpha, 2010, pp. 1) are corporations.  They do not provide the creators on their pages.  Their pages do not display any bias.

            Lastly, pedagogy is yet a factor to evaluate any web tool.  Does the information on this page adhere to research-based principles of teaching?  If the site is intended to provide professional development for educators, is the information presented using multiple modes of presentation, such as the use of text, illustrations, videos, audios, etc. (Schrock, 2006)?  Lycos, Bing, WolframAlpha, and Google Chrome are research-based principles of teaching.  WolframAlpha is more of text.  While Lycos, Bing, and Google Chrome have text, illustration, videos, images, and more. 

            In all, web tools have shaped searching online more easier and user-friendly.  If engaging student is a concern, then stepping outside of your comfort zone is a must.  However, it is important to keep in mind that evaluating a web tool is a key component.  Once the websites have meet the evaluation, then giving a research or an assignment can be easy with a touch of a finger.  So when using a web tool do not forget the factors to evaluate it such technical content, authority, and pedagogy (Schrock, 2006).