Weaving Tapestries

Internet is the loom
Information is the yarn
Dyes are motivation, interest, & excitement of students

Threads, & Fabrics: Selecting Internet Sites
Like selecting the right thread, web weavers need skills in selecting and evaluating Internet resources

Kathy Schrock's Evaluation Resources
http://www.capecod.net/Wixon/evalhigh.htm

Criteria for Evaluation
All threads must be strong to build an effective web page.

Goal of Site

Is the goal stated?
Is the mission served?
Does the site possess literary, artistic, or social value?
Does the goal match your needs?

Nine Planets
http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/intro.html

Appropriateness of Site

(Depends on level of user)
Is the site focused at an appropriate reading level?
Is the site free of inappropriate language or graphics?
Is any bias/opinion easy for students to identify and discuss?
Does the site foster respect for all people including women, minorites, ethnic groups, disabled, and aged?
Does the site reflect a culturally diverse, pluralistic society?
Does the site reflect global awareness?

UN
http://www.un.org

Accuracy

Is the information credible?
Is the information fact or opinion?
Is supporting material provided?
Are associated links provided? Do links work?
Is a web master listed?
Is the site well-maintained and frequently updated?
Are comments requested?

Elvis Presley Official Site
http://www.elvis-presley.com/

Elvis Presley
http://darwin.clas.virginia.edu/~acs5d/elvislinks.html

Scope & Sequence of Content

Is the content well-organized?
Is the breathe of coverage appropriate?
Is information presented in a logical order?

Cockroach Site
http://www.nj.com/yucky/roaches/index.html

Depth of Content

Is the site thorough?
Are links provided for expansion? Are they good?
Is the site complete?
Does the site provide "real-world" applications?

Wall Street Research Net
http://www.wsrn.com

Multiple Channels

Are sound options provided at music/speech sites?
Are videos provided if relevant?
Are graphics used to support ideas?
Are animations used in relevant ways?

Chickscope
http://vizlab.beckman.uiuc.edu/chickscope/

Screen Design

Are elements such as navigation tools consistent?
Are functional areas provided?
Do background and animations contribute rather than distract?
Are the font styles and sizes easy to read?
Are graphics large enough to see?
Are graphics small enough to load fast?

Freezone
http://www.freezone.com/home/index.html

Aesthetics

Is the site easy to use?
Does the site have visual appeal?
Are the graphics worth the wait?
Does the site appeal to the imagination, senses, & intellect?
Is the site interesting, stimulating, and engaging?
Is the site thought provoking?

Living in Toyko
http://cyberfair.gsn.org/smis/contents.html

Technical Aspects

Does the site run without error?
Are directions provided for downloads?
Does loading take a reasonable amount of time?
Do most browsers work with the site?
Is a text-only option provided?
Street Cents
http://www.screen.com/streetsite/foodsafety/lobby.html

Navigation

Is it easy to move between pages?
Could you easily return to previous parts of the site?
Is an easy-to-use table of contents or index provided?
Were links clearly described?
Were page lengths kept short to limit options and confusion?

CMCC Museum
http://www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca

Accessibility

Is the site available and easily loaded?
Is the site restricted through password or subscriptions?
Journey North
http://www.ties.k12.mn.us/~jnorth/reg97/

Dyes: Promoting interest & excitement
Like choosing the right dyes, web weavers need to select projects that are stimulating and eye-catching

Theory into Practice
Real-world applications
Relevance
Impact
Fun!

The Virtual Garden
http://pathfinder.com/@@VrXStAQAJhZdP8qT/vg/Welcome/welcome.html

Mediums: Exploring channels

Text
Graphics, photos
Maps, charts, tables, timelines
Historical documents
Audio
Video
Animation

Frog
http://george.lbl.gov/ITG/Whole.Frog/frog/label1.jpg

Globes
http://hum.amu.edu.pl/~zbzw/glob/glob43.htm

Egypt
http://www.mordor.com/hany/egypt/egypt.html

Internet Tapestries: Who are you?

Would you rather ...

enjoy the work of others?
design, but let someone else create?
create a page?
create a masterpiece?

Wisconsin Representatives
http://danenet.wicip.org/mmsd-it/llissues.html
Austin Local Leaders
http://www.bga.com/~kirby/index2.html

Design: Organizing teacher ideas
Like creating the pattern, web weavers must identify the best way to communicate their ideas.

Teacher communications

Print supplements
Reading guides
Lists of lists
Bookmarks
Locally run web pages

Birds Activities
http://www.4j.lane.edu/CentralServices/instruction/Cupids/Birds/Birds.html

Oceanography Activities
http://www.4j.lane.edu/CentralServices/instruction/Cupids/Oceanography/Oceanography.html

Create: Weaving web pages
Like piecing together a quilt, web weavers must focus on parts & wholes.
Information only

Links only
Information, links, activities

Filamentality
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/filamentality/

Hispanic Page
http://magic.usi.edu/magic/subjectareas/HispanicPeople.html

Create: Weaving web tapestries
Like fabric becoming art, there's no greater thrill than seeing your web pages blossom

Identify meaningful site metaphors: book, map, chart, visual
Include all elements: overview, contents, information, conclusion, credits, links

Hawaii Project
http://www.aloha.net/~waianhi/wcoast.html

Wyoming History Project
http://www.fremont25.k12.wy.us/RMS/project.htm

Display: Showing your work
Like a masterpiece in a museum, your web site will be viewed by the world.

Help students identify their audience
Focus attention on detail
Develop a means of self, peer, and teacher evaluation

Sweden Project
http://www.netg.se/Skolor/swefin/iceuk.htm
Silk
http://www.greywolf/coyote/students/silk.html

Creation Stories
http://www.reedbooks.com.au/heinemann/global/mythstor.html

Real World Tapestries: Spinning with polyester
In the real world, you might not have full access

Print out information/lessons
Download pages
Copy/paste text, words
Run pages locally
Use one computer & large screen

Microbe Zoo
http://commtechlab.msu.edu/CTLProjects/dlc-me/zoo/zahmain.html
Wolf Project
http://www.wolf.org/

Mexico Project
http://magic.usi.edu/magic/SS96Web/Mexico/Mexico1.html

Real World Tapestries: Joining the quilting bee
In the real world, join projects in progress

Join global projects
Replicate completed projects
Evaluate or add to other web pages
Submit projects to be published
Start a contest or project

TransAsia Virtual Field Trip
http://www.globalearn.org/other/transasia.html

Shuttle/Mir Online Project
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/smore/updates/smore2.html
Memories of 1945
http://spectrum.tcns.co.uk/chatback/

Return to Lamb's Presentation Page.

Annette Lamb, c1996. The contents of this page are based on the book Surfin' the Internet. Users are free to link to this site. Users are also allowed to print and use the resources in their classroom.

Internet is the loom Information is the yarn Dyes are motivation, interest, & excitement of students

Threads, & Fabrics: Selecting Internet Sites Like selecting the right thread, web weavers need skills in selecting and evaluating Internet resources

Kathy Schrock's Evaluation Resources http://www.capecod.net/Wixon/evalhigh.htm

Criteria for Evaluation All threads must be strong to build an effective web page. Goal of Site

Is the goal stated? Is the mission served? Does the site possess literary, artistic, or social value? Does the goal match your needs? Nine Planets http://www.seds.org/nineplanets/nineplanets/intro.html

Appropriateness of Site

Accuracy

Scope & Sequence of Content

Is the content well-organized? Is the breathe of coverage appropriate? Is information presented in a logical order? Cockroach Site http://www.nj.com/yucky/roaches/index.html

Depth of Content

Is the site thorough? Are links provided for expansion? Are they good? Is the site complete? Does the site provide "real-world" applications? Wall Street Research Net http://www.wsrn.com

Multiple Channels

Are sound options provided at music/speech sites? Are videos provided if relevant? Are graphics used to support ideas? Are animations used in relevant ways? Chickscope http://vizlab.beckman.uiuc.edu/chickscope/

Screen Design

Aesthetics

Is the site easy to use? Does the site have visual appeal? Are the graphics worth the wait? Does the site appeal to the imagination, senses, & intellect? Is the site interesting, stimulating, and engaging? Is the site thought provoking? Living in Toyko http://cyberfair.gsn.org/smis/contents.html

Technical Aspects

Does the site run without error? Are directions provided for downloads? Does loading take a reasonable amount of time? Do most browsers work with the site? Is a text-only option provided? Street Cents http://www.screen.com/streetsite/foodsafety/lobby.html

Navigation

Is it easy to move between pages? Could you easily return to previous parts of the site? Is an easy-to-use table of contents or index provided? Were links clearly described? Were page lengths kept short to limit options and confusion? CMCC Museum http://www.cmcc.muse.digital.ca

Accessibility

Is the site available and easily loaded? Is the site restricted through password or subscriptions? Journey North http://www.ties.k12.mn.us/~jnorth/reg97/

Dyes: Promoting interest & excitement Like choosing the right dyes, web weavers need to select projects that are stimulating and eye-catching

Theory into Practice Real-world applications Relevance Impact Fun! The Virtual Garden http://pathfinder.com/@@VrXStAQAJhZdP8qT/vg/Welcome/welcome.html

Mediums: Exploring channels

Text Graphics, photos Maps, charts, tables, timelines Historical documents Audio Video Animation Frog http://george.lbl.gov/ITG/Whole.Frog/frog/label1.jpg Globes http://hum.amu.edu.pl/~zbzw/glob/glob43.htm Egypt http://www.mordor.com/hany/egypt/egypt.html

Internet Tapestries: Who are you?

Would you rather ...

enjoy the work of others? design, but let someone else create? create a page? create a masterpiece?

Wisconsin Representatives http://danenet.wicip.org/mmsd-it/llissues.html Austin Local Leaders http://www.bga.com/~kirby/index2.html

Design: Organizing teacher ideas Like creating the pattern, web weavers must identify the best way to communicate their ideas.

Teacher communications

Print supplements Reading guides Lists of lists Bookmarks Locally run web pages

Birds Activities http://www.4j.lane.edu/CentralServices/instruction/Cupids/Birds/Birds.html Oceanography Activities http://www.4j.lane.edu/CentralServices/instruction/Cupids/Oceanography/Oceanography.html

Create: Weaving web pages Like piecing together a quilt, web weavers must focus on parts & wholes. Information only

Links only Information, links, activities Filamentality http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/filamentality/ Hispanic Page http://magic.usi.edu/magic/subjectareas/HispanicPeople.html

Create: Weaving web tapestries Like fabric becoming art, there's no greater thrill than seeing your web pages blossom

Identify meaningful site metaphors: book, map, chart, visual Include all elements: overview, contents, information, conclusion, credits, links Hawaii Project http://www.aloha.net/~waianhi/wcoast.html Wyoming History Project http://www.fremont25.k12.wy.us/RMS/project.htm

Display: Showing your work Like a masterpiece in a museum, your web site will be viewed by the world.

Real World Tapestries: Spinning with polyester In the real world, you might not have full access

Print out information/lessons Download pages Copy/paste text, words Run pages locally Use one computer & large screen Microbe Zoo http://commtechlab.msu.edu/CTLProjects/dlc-me/zoo/zahmain.html Wolf Project http://www.wolf.org/ Mexico Project http://magic.usi.edu/magic/SS96Web/Mexico/Mexico1.html

Real World Tapestries: Joining the quilting bee In the real world, join projects in progress