ICT in Education Toolkit

Tool 4.2 Identification & Evaluation of Existing ICT-Enhanced Content
ICT-Enhanced Content Item Appropriate for Use


ICT-ENHANCED CONTENT PROFILE

ICT-Enhanced Content Item:

Brief Description


Learner Level:

Curricular Subject:

Curricular Unit
Unit within a curricular subject, such as algebra, multiplication, or calculus

Type of ICT-Enhanced Content:
Check all that apply
 Audio Program
 Radio Program
 Video Program
 Television Program
 CD multimedia program
(e.g., curricular course modules, virtual labs, teacher development materials, shill training simulations, etc)
 Web-based multimedia program
(e.g., curricular course modules, online courses, virtual education, virtual labs, teacher development portal, workplace e-training, shill training simulations, etc.)

Usage Profile
Usage Modality
 Integrated into Curriculum
 Enrichment
 Self-standing
 Information Management


Learning Objectives
 Allow the storage or display Information
 Foster exploration of materials and ideas
 Enable the application of understanding
 Organize materials or ideas to foster analysis
 Support evaluation and problem-solving
 Facilitate constructing or designing projects


Teaching Objectives
 Not Applicable
 Presentation
 Demonstration
 Drill and Practice
 Animation and simulation
 Research
 Collaboration/ communication
 Management of Student Learning

Publication and Availability
Source : (Publisher, URL)

Cost
  Free
  Free Sample
  Priced at
Specify details of costs, includng per copy and/or license, number of seats/copies, annual license, etc.

Is ICT-enhanced content externally evaluated?
 Yes  No 
Is a copy available to Team?
 Yes  No 
Location of ICT-Enhanced Content


Initial Assessment
  Potentially suitable for adoption
  Potentially suitable for adaptation
  Useful as background resource during process of developing new similar ICT-enhanced content
 
  1. Identification of Appropriate Existing Educational ICT-Enhanced Content
 

Step 1. Review of Required ICT-Enhanced Content


Each Team of specialists will review the lists of Required ICT-Enhanced Content for items of required content that are within its scope of specialization.

Step 2. Search for Suitable Existing ICT-Enhanced Content in Indexed Guides

 Existing guides and portals can save considerable effort in identifying potentially useful software and websites. Most of them can be searched by subject, grade level, specific topic, media type, index and cost by subject area, grade level, and other characteristics. They usually briefly describe the resource and also critique or rate it. Some include only the resources that are evaluated by experts and deemed of satisfactory quality.

For a sample of these indexed guides, click INDEXED GUIDES OF EDUCATIONAL CONTENT

Each guide is referenced and briefly annotated. Most of them include a variety of media (video tapes, CDs and web portals and objects.)  At the end of this list are few references of guides to mainly free content.

 Most of the resources cited in the guides are available only in English. Where English is a language of instruction, they may be directly applicable. If any of these resources proves suitable it may be translated or adapted into another language - within the framework of copyright and licensing regulations. In addition, these guides and portals might serve as models for countries that want to prepare their own guides.

Each Team will search for suitable existing contentware that satisfy the characteristics of the required ones. It should start with resources that have already been evaluated and deemed of good quality, by examining some or all of the indexed guides. Once an item is found to be promising, the Team will enter information on this item into the list below for future use by using the "Create" button below.

Step 3. Search for Suitable Existing ICT-Enhanced Content in Other Sources

Each Expert Team may identify other ICT-Enhanced content by searching catalogues of publishers and venders, examining the holdings of any available multimedia libraries, and surfing the web (see Tool 5.3.2). Once an item is found to be promising, the Team will add it to the list below by using the "Create" button.

Evaluation of ICT-Enhanced Content


Lower Secondary

English

ICT-Enhanced Content Item Appropriate for Use

ICT-Enhanced Content Item: Creative writing
Learner Level: Lower Secondary
Curricular Subject: English
Curricular Unit: Essay writing
Type of ICT-Enhanced Content: Web-based multimedia program
Usage Modality Integrated into Curriculum
Learning Objectives Foster exploration of materials and ideas, Enable the application of understanding, Organize materials or ideas to foster analysis
Teaching Objectives Research
Source : (Publisher, URL)
Cost Free

Is ICT-enhanced content externally evaluated? Yes
Is a copy available to the Team? No
Location of ICT-Enhanced Content
Initial Assessment Potentially suitable for adaptation
Last updated on 28 September 2006

Upper Secondary

ICT-Enhanced Content Item Appropriate for Use

ICT-Enhanced Content Item: Creative writing
Learner Level: Upper Secondary
Curricular Subject: English
Curricular Unit: Essay writing
Type of ICT-Enhanced Content: Web-based multimedia program
Usage Modality Integrated into Curriculum
Learning Objectives Foster exploration of materials and ideas, Enable the application of understanding, Organize materials or ideas to foster analysis
Teaching Objectives Research
Source : (Publisher, URL)
Cost Free

Is ICT-enhanced content externally evaluated? Yes
Is a copy available to the Team? No
Location of ICT-Enhanced Content
Initial Assessment Potentially suitable for adaptation
Last updated on 28 September 2006

Evaluation of ICT-Enhanced Content Item
Select the appropriate response for each statement


1. Content Suitability
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Content is in line with curriculum
Content is in line with content of corresponding item (s) from “Database of Required ICT-Enhanced Content”
Content is logically structured
Content is well presented
Content is appropriate for targeted learner's level
Content is accurate
Content is clear


2. Suitability for Instructional Usage
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Suitable for the ICT-fostered learning objectives (as outlined in corresponding item (s) from “Database of Required ICT-Enhanced Content”)
Suitable for the ICT-fostered teaching objectives (as outlined in corresponding item (s) from “Database of Required ICT-Enhanced Content”)
Suitable for usage modality outlined in corresponding item(s) from “Database of Required ICT-Enhanced Content”


3. Context Suitability
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Product is free of cultural, racial or gender bias
Materials (such as animations, photos, etc.) are culturally acceptable
The language is sensitive to gender and culture


4. Pedagogical Suitability
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Feedback is offered where needed
New concepts and terms are explained clearly
Learning activities are varied in interactivity
Learning activities are diverse in difficulty
Sequence of topics and activities is easy to follow


5. Suitability of Technology
Not Applicable False Partially True True
The technology used is most suitable for presenting content of curriculum unit
Appropriate media (sound, video, animation, etc,) are used for the different concepts or activities
Multiple approaches and activities are presented to accommodate diverse learners


6. Functionality
Not Applicable False Partially True True
The product runs without problems
The quality of the output is acceptable
Multimedia complements textbooks and manual
Blueprint is clearly included to help learners get an overview of the ICT-enhanced content
Media (e.g. videos, animations, simulations, etc.) are clear and run well
Media elements are well integrated and appropriately placed
The product is attractive and interesting


7. User-friendliness
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Operating instructions are easy to follow
Operating instructions are appropriate for the user
Facilitators can learn to use the ICT-Enhanced content effectively and independently within a short period of time
End-users can learn to use the ICT-Enhanced content effectively and independently within a short period of time
There is a HELP function


8. Browser-based Usability
(when applicable)
Not Applicable False Partially True True
Navigation is easy, intuitive, and user-centered
There is a sitemap that links all the components
There is a functional search facility
Icons, navigational commands, and other prompts are easy to use
The site loads quickly
Graphic size is acceptable and does not take long to download
Screens are attractive and easy to read

Rating of ICT-Enhanced Content
Scoring is calculated as follows: Not Available (N/A)= not counted, False = 0, Partially True= 1, and True=2
 
  2. Evaluation of Identified ICT-Enhanced Content
 
The Team needs to evaluate samples of promising items of ICT-enhanced content identified above for their quality and suitability in light of the already stated requirements for ICT-enhanced content (Tool 4.1).

Review and evaluation may be conducted by the corresponding Expert Team or by a designated specialist. The reviewer should complete the Evaluation Instrument below for each ICT-enhanced content item to be evaluated.

To evaluate the item, click on the item title and complete the form. When the form is submitted, a graphic profile is generated.

When the evaluation is completed, click on  "Overall Assessment" to revivew the summary of the evalution and enter your overall assessment regarding item suitability.

Search Existing ICT-Enhanced Content



Learner Level:

Curricular Subject:

Curricular Unit
Unit within a curricular subject, such as algebra, multiplication, or calculus


Type of ICT-Enhanced Content
 Audio Program
 Radio Program
 Video Program
 Television Program
 CD multimedia program
(e.g., curricular course modules, virtual labs, teacher development materials, shill training simulations, etc)
 Web-based multimedia program
(e.g., curricular course modules, online courses, virtual education, virtual labs, teacher development portal, workplace e-training, shill training simulations, etc.)
 
  3. View Existing Educational ICT-Enhanced Content
 
The database of existing ICT-enhanced content may be searched by specifying a combination of criteria. Once retrieved, a ICT-enhanced content item may be edited and resubmitted.

You can also download a partial or full list of existing content by specifying Learners' Level, Curriculum Subject and Curricular Unit.


 
  OUTPUT OF THIS TOOL
 

The output of the this tool resides in a database. You may search it by certain criteria by going back to Section 3.

The application of this tool generates the following files:

These files are saved in the Country's Filing Cabinet. They may be accessed anytime from the Filing Cabinet or from the above list by clicking on the specific file.

If any documents have been uploaded to the Team Bookshelf, they may be accessed at anytime.

Please go back to Toolkit Map/Home to continue to the next Toolbox.

 
  Reference Information
 

List of Indexed Guides for Existing Educational ICT-Enhanced Content

TEEM
 http://www.teem.org.uk/

TEEM provides teachers with free access to independent, classroom-based evaluations of educational Digital Resources. Because TEEM-trained classroom teachers write these evaluations, readers can be sure that they are receiving impartial, thorough and reliable advice. Materials are used in the classroom, before evaluations are written using clear frameworks. Once edited, the results are published on the TEEM website, where there are currently 730 titles. The web site is searchable by subject, topic, product, publisher, and curriculum focus.

Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (ENC)
http://www.enc.org/

ENC specializes in identifying and disseminating high-quality mathematics and science material to improve K-12 education. . The ENC collection of math and science curriculum resources is the most comprehensive in the U.S.A., containing over 18,000 resources collected from federal and state agencies, professional organizations, commercial publishers, local school districts and individuals. This collection includes software, videotapes, CD-ROMs, useful Internet sites and print material. ENC constantly receives submitted material from different sources. ENC staff carefully scan vendor catalogues, search various web sites, hold discussions with educators and staff working in professional organizations, read different journal and magazine reviews, and take into account suggestions coming from publishers and users on an ongoing basis.Staffs watch videotapes, load and use software material, and make an effort to track and include any available evaluative information that can provide users with links to that information. This type of information is usually found next to the products' catalog records.Not all records will contain evaluation information

California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)
http://www.clrn.org/search/

CLRN has a database that includes a wide range of contentware (video, CD, DVD, software, Internet covering many subjects. Existing resources are reviewed by trained experts against a set of standards and criteria and those deemed acceptable are included in the database. CLRN has an elaborate mechanism that allows search for contentware by subject, Grade level, media type, instructional setting, language, and instructional mode (e.g. tutorial, simulation, demonstration, problem-solving, skill building, etc.)

Best Practice in Education Portals 
The Commonwealth of Learning and SchoolNet Africa
http://www.col.org/Consultancies/02EducationPortals.htm

This report reviews a range of existing education portals on the Internet on the basis of an elaborate set of criteria. Detailed summaries of these reviews are provided, in addition to a tool for evaluating online education software

The Educational Software Selector (EPIE Institute)
http://www.epie.org/epie_tess.htm

This instrument has a searchable database that includes reviews of 19,000 instructional software packages. Each review provides a general description of what the software does, indicates what knowledge and skills are to be developed, and references other published reviews of the software. The software packages can be searched by computer type, subject, grade level (pre-school through college), the teaching/learning approach used, key words, and price. Available on CD-ROM with quarterly updates and on a Web site that can only be accessed by subscribers.

American Library Association's Notable Children's Websites
http://www.ala.org/alsc/ncwc.html

This is a portal to high quality educational websites for children. Items are evaluated and authorized by committee. The portal is searchable by key word and Learner's level (pre-school, elementary, Middle school)

Children's Software Revue (CSR)
http://www.childrenssoftware.com

This website has more than 6,000 reviews of contentware, titles and is updated continually. That can be searched and accessed via the Children's Software Finder™ database, which is available for CSR subscribers only.

DirFile: Home of FREEWARE Software
http://www.dirfile.com/education.htm

The database covers subjects such as, Language, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Science, and Teaching Tools.

Curriculum Online (UK)
http://www.curriculumonline.gov.uk/

The site includes multimedia commercial and free software in a searchable database. It can be searched by curriculum subject, grade level, key word, cost (priced or free)

The Gateway to Educational Materials
http://www.thegateway.org/

The Gateway to Educational MaterialsSM is a searchable database that contains detailed descriptions of over 40,000 educational resources found on various federal, state, university, non-profit, and commercial Internet sites. Many of these items are free.

Education Network (EdNA) - Australia
http://www.edna.edu.au/

EdNA Online provides a searchable database of web-based resources useful for teaching and learning.

Free Software on CD
http://tinyurl.com/x2ti

This site offers a limited range of free contentware on CDs. The client has to pay for shipping and handling only.