Minds On

Check out this website!

Spend a few minutes exploring the following website. You can do this on your own or with a partner.

Press the following link to access the TVOkids website.

TVOkids website(Opens in a new window)

What do you think?

  • Did you like it?
  • Is it fun?
  • Was it hard to only spend 5 to 10 minutes?

Are you reading this 30 minutes later because you got wrapped up in all the website has to offer?

Now you have lots to share if you wish to review and recommend the site!

How is this site similar or different to other websites you’ve used? After you learn how to evaluate websites in the next part of this learning activity, you will evaluate and compare two websites and then write a paragraph summary review. First, let’s find out more!

Action

A website

There are 3 main parts in a website:

  • design
  • content
  • development

Your website review will summarize and evaluate the design and content of a website. Your evaluation will analyze:

Safety

  • Is this site approved by a teacher?

Design

  • How clear and easy it is to navigate the website?
  • How visually appealing is it?
  • Is it too busy?
  • Is it free of pop-up windows and advertisements?

Content

  • Is it informational, for entertainment (game or blog), or a service (search engine or dictionary)?
  • What does the website offer? Does it offer what it appears to offer?
  • Who do you think would like or use the website? Why?
  • Is it appropriate for peers in your age group?

Follow the questions in this website chart to take jot-notes as you review your kids website that you will write a summary paragraph for. Make sure you include the target audience.

Website evaluation criteria

As you navigate the website, take jot notes (not complete sentences yet). Use the Design-Content-Safety and Website Checklist questions in the following chart to guide your website review. Use the questions as a checklist to review your jot notes afterwards.

Website evaluation criteria chart for you to use

Evaluation Criteria Guiding considerations for your evaluation
Safety
  • Is the site approved by your teacher? Check if the site is approved by a teacher before you bookmark the site in your browser and record the web address to include in your review.
  • Do not submit any personal information like email, address, or name to any website without the supervision of your parent/guardian.
Design
  • Does the design clearly present and communicate what the website is about? So, does the design reflect the content and communicate it well, overall?
  • How clear is the website? Is it easy to navigate?
  • Can I easily find the homepage?
  • Is the navigation bar easy to find and use?
  • How visually appealing is it?
  • Is it too busy?
  • Is it free of pop-up windows and advertisements?
  • Does the design help you identify and find the content?
  • Does the design clearly present and communicate what the website is about?
  • Does the design match the content? For example, If it’s a photography site, there should be images. If it’s an informational site, there should be information. If it’s a game website, there should be games. If it’s offering downloads, are the downloads working?
  • Is it a channel?
  • Is it a tool? For example, ‘design your own invitation.’
  • Can you read or view the content?
  • Are there “dead” links? That is, links to sites that don’t load properly. If there are, try it out a couple of times to make sure it’s not a connection issue.
  • Are there more images than texts? More videos than texts?
  • Are there distractions to the content?
  • How easy is it to use the tool, service?
  • How interactive is it?
Content
  • Is the website offering Informational, entertainment (game or blog) or service (search engine or dictionary) content?
  • What does the website offer, specifically? What is the purpose of the content?
  • Is the website content authentic? That is, does it offer what it appears to offer?
  • Who would the website be relevant to? Who do you think would like or use the website and why?
  • Is it appropriate for peers in your age group?
  • Does it offer free downloads? Why, for what purpose?
  • Does the website charge a service fee? Why, for what purpose?
  • Does the website ask people to join an email list? Why, for what purpose?
  • Do the web authors and/or creators share about the site and themselves? Do they include a picture or contact email?
  • Scan or skim the text to identify if you can read and understand parts of the text. Scanning or skimming means reading quickly through the first, middle and end sentences in 1-2 paragraphs, or jumping from word to word or phrase to phrase to identify if you can read most of the words and phrases.
  • Take your time when skimming or scanning the text you have chosen. Try to decide what the main points of the text are and jot them down using a method of your choice. If you are having trouble understanding or reading the text, make a note of this as it tells you the website needs to revise their text for better understanding.
Credibility
  • If you think it does, ask if this is a credible author or site.
  • Is the site published by an established news reporter or organization with an established and respected reputation?
  • What appears to be the purpose of the site? Is it to inform, persuade or sell a product or idea?
  • Is the information current enough?
  • You may need some teacher help to advise you.

Evaluating the websites that you’ve chosen

If it’s a site you’re familiar with and use often and regularly, spend 5-10 minutes navigating the site before you make your jot notes.

If it’s a site that’s new to you, consider navigating the site at least 3 to 6 times over the course of 5 days. That gives you a sense of how the site presents itself over a timespan of a few days. You may decide on a longer or shorter timeframe.

Planning and writing your summary paragraphs

Examine the steps that you can use to organize your jot notes into summary paragraphs.

Step 1: Using a paragraph frame

First, organize your jot notes into a paragraph frame.

Explore the following Homework Zone video entitled “Paragraph with Supporting Details” to learn how to use a paragraph frame to summarize your jot notes.

Paragraph frame

Complete the Paragraph Frame in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document to structure your jot notes.

Paragraph frame

Press the Activity button to access the Paragraph Frame.

Activity (Open PDF in a new tab)

Step 2: Write a summary in paragraph form

Using your paragraph frame, write a draft of your review in paragraph form.

Access the following Homework Zone video entitled “How To Write a Paragraph” to review some tips on how to structure a paragraph.

Step 3: Revise your work

Student Success

Think-pair-share

You’ll now work on revising your paragraph. If possible, work with a peer to edit for content, clarity and length. Focus on spelling and consistent verb tense usage i.e., use either past or present, not a combination of both.

You can also can examine the following Homework Zone videos to help you edit for spelling and verb tense agreement:

Access the following Homework Zone video called “Tenses” to have a better understanding of usage of the words “is” and “are.”

Access the following Homework Zone video called “Language Tenses” to learn tips on how to use language tenses by using the days of the week.

Access the following Homework Zone video called “Practicing Spelling” to learn useful tips and tricks to remember how to spell words.

Conference with a trusted adult for feedback. When you write your final draft, include edits from partners, peers, trusted adults and your own edits in your revised version.

Use the feedback that you receive and the information from the videos that you accessed to write and polish your final piece!

Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.

Step 3: Publish your paragraph

Publish and share your website review.

Consolidation

Create your own website!

Consider creating your own website.

  • determine its purpose
  • design for navigation

Use the website evaluation criteria chart and answer the questions as you create your plan. Be sure to think about the purpose and audience of your website! How will you design your website?

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.

Discover More

Press ‘Discover More’ to extend your skills.

Think about how you can protect your privacy and safely navigate the internet. Research tips and important considerations for students when using the internet.

Do you need a starting point for your search? Choose a search engine and enter the following keywords ‘Get Cyber Safe’ and ‘Government of Canada.’

After, think about this: Why would the Government of Canada be a reliable source of information?