The document outlines the requirements for a final essay assignment. Students must analyze and compare two approved websites that provide resources for teachers. They must examine the purpose and functionality of tools on each site, evaluate the reliability of content, explore how resources can be used for research/testing hypotheses, identify strengths and limitations, and discuss how sites can engage additional stakeholders. The essay must be in Microsoft Word, a minimum of 2000 words, and address each of the 5 specified categories with citations and examples from the sites and course materials.

1. FINAL ESSAY REQUIREMENTS -- 1/12/2018 by 11:59PM
EST
Essay Assignment: Utilize web-based tools to find and research
classroom resources
Requirements:
· Preferably typed in Microsoft Word; contact me if you need to
use a different format
· 2000 word minimum
· Fulfills all conditions of assignment rubric (Found on course
site)
For this essay assignment, you will choose, analyze, compare
and contrast 2 web sites that allow teachers to: 1) access
information relevant to their teaching and 2) conduct research
using tools and resources available on each site for building
lesson plans and interactive activities (twin goals). In other
words, you will analyze websites and other digital resources
that provide the type of information and research tools that a
practicing teacher must use on a regular basis. In analyzing this
site, you will look at all features, including function, reliability
of content, and whether or not this site is an effective resource
for educators, thereby successfully meeting the twin goals
stated above. In addition, you will use the site as designed to
access information, research an issue, or test a hypothesis to
show how you make effective and efficient choices to enhance
your teaching.
The two sites you choose must be from the list of approved sites
below. If you wish to choose a different site, please check with
me first and seek approval before continuing. Any site chosen
must also meet the twin goals stated above.
ThinkFinity: http://www.thinkfinity.org
PBS Teachers: http://www.pbs.org/teachers

2. Discovery
Education: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/
Edutopia: http://www.edutopia.org
Scholastic Teachers: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/
Smithsonian
Education: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/
Library of Congress: Teachers: http://www.loc.gov/teachers
Intel®
Education: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/education/
k12/teachers.html
National Science Foundation: Where Discovery
Begins: http://www.nsf.gov/news/classroom
The Metropolitan Museum of Art: For
Educators: http://www.metmuseum.org/learn/for-educators
Illuminations: Resources for Teaching
Mathematics: http://illuminations.nctm.org/
TeacherTube: http://teachertube.comSmithsonian
Education: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/inde
x.htmlThe Teachers
Corner: http://www.theteacherscorner.net/Teachers
Network: http://teachersnetwork.org/Education
World: http://www.educationworld.com/The Gateway to
21st Century
Skills: http://www.thegateway.org/Teacher.Net: http://teachers.
net/A to Z Teacher
Stuff: http://atozteacherstuff.com/TeachersFirst: http://www.tea
chersfirst.com/index.cfmTeachHUB: http://www.teachhub.com/
Annenberg Learner: http://www.learner.org/My
TeacherTools: http://www.myteachertools.com/Teachnology: htt
p://www.teach-nology.com/LD Online: www.ldonline.org
You want to focus on the utility of each site: what it does, the
content it produces, and whether or not it provides educational
resources to teachers (effectiveness). What are the pros/cons of
using each of these sites in the classroom? Consider learner,
teacher, parent, and community factors. In all examples, you
must demonstrate (through written evidence, examples and

3. support) that you have used the site and found highlights and
pitfalls as they relate to the twin goals above. Ultimately, you
will be graded on your ability to:
“Skillfully employ technology (the sites you choose) to access
information, research an issue, or test a hypothesis, and
communicate findings and make effective and efficient choices.
(You must also) Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of
the strengths and limitations of a particular technology (or
methodology the technology allows). Correctly identify what
types of problems or tasks it is suited to and which it is not, and
why.” (As outlined in the SAS Undergraduate Core Standards
goal y – “Student is able to… Employ current technologies to
access information, to conduct research, and to communicate
findings.”)
More information can be found
here: http://sas.rutgers.edu/images/stories/undergrad_office/021
1_sas_core_brochure12.pdf
More specifically, an outstanding essay must address each of
the following criteria. Please break your essay into identified
sections (in other words, include paragraph headings) that cover
each of the following 5 categories:
· Purpose/Function: Identify a feature/tool of each site that is
essential to its use. Discuss how the tool can be used to explore,
research, or develop hypotheses about a topic germane to
education. Describe how you gain access to information with
those tools. Explain how those features or tools are important to
their site.
· Content Reliability: Going above and beyond
purpose/function, content that is found on the site must be
reviewed for reliability. Judgments about the reliability of the
content must be supported by evidence. Choose and answer at
least 2 of the 5 options below for each of the sites:
· Who is the author of the site or materials found on the site?
What are his/her credentials or other evidence of expertise in
the area? Is s/he presenting opinion, argument, or evidence?
How do you know?

4. · Where does the author get his/her information? Is the source
reliable? Provide support for your assertion.
· Is the information current and up-to-date? This doesn’t
necessarily mean that the publish date is within the last few
years; rather, it means that the page/site provides information
that is generally accepted to be the latest thinking or still useful
today.
· Are citations included? Are the citations to reliable sources?
Provide support for your assertion.
· Who sponsors this web site? What is the parent organization?
What is their purpose? Is this a for-profit enterprise? Is this a
group with a political or ideological agenda that it is
promoting? Where does the site/organization get its funding?
Do the funders have an agenda that might skew the reliability of
information provided? (For example, a drug-maker may not be
the best source of information about a particular medical
condition and appropriate treatments. Similarly, the NRA might
not be a completely objective source of information on gun
violence.
· Research & Theory: This aspect of the assignment focuses on
two concerns of modern professions: research and theory.
Reflect on the information, content, and resources offered in
each of the websites chosen for this project with regard to
research and theory. Examine a particular resource from each
site. a) Determine ways that each of these resources can be
used by education professionals to conduct research or possibly
test a hypothesis relevant to their work AND b) relate your
examples to the learning theories you’ve learned about in this
course that underlie their development and use. Be sure to
provide support for your assertions in both a) and b)
· You MUST cite the source of the learning theory you discuss.
For example, if you are discussing something that appears in a
reading, it must be followed by the author's name and page
number. If you are citing something in one of my presentations,
it must be shown which one.
· Strengths & Limitations: In this section look again at the

5. various resources offered by each of the chosen sites. Which of
these resources would the most useful to you as a teacher?
Explain. Which of these resources would be the least useful to
you as a teacher? Explain. Use theories of learning or what you
have learned about the role of technology in education (cited
from course reading) to support each of your examples.
· You MUST cite the source of the learning theory/course
readings you discuss. For example, if you are discussing
something that appears in a reading, it must be followed by the
author's name and page number. If you are citing something in
one of my presentations, it must be shown which one.
· Stakeholders: The sites that you have examined for this
assignment are targeted to specific audiences. Examine each of
the sites. How can each site be made more inclusive or broaden
its appeal/usefulness to stakeholders such as students, parents,
administrators or even policy makers? Why should the sponsors
of the site aim to include those potential stakeholders?
Consider what you have learned about theory, research, and
educational technology when developing your response.
Provide support for your assertions from cited course readings.
Essay Project Rubric:
OUTSTANDING (4 Points)
GOOD (3 Points)
SATISFACTORY (2 Points)
UNSATIFACTORY (D/F) (0-1 Points)
1. Purpose/Function(4 points)
Learner scores "Outstanding" where at least one example from
each site’s tools/features is identified and shown to be critical
to the site's function. In addition, learner must also include full
explanation of how to access information on the sites or search
for teaching materials in order to score "Satisfactory" or
better.

6. A function of each site described in advanced detail. Must
include full explanation of how to access information on the
site, search for teaching materials, and explains how
tools/features are important to that site.
A function of each site described in detail. Must include some
explanation of how to access information on the site, search for
teaching materials, and explains how tools/features are
important to that site.
A function of each site described. Includes some explanation
of how to access information on the site, search for teaching
materials, and explains how tools/features are important to that
site.
A function of each site poorly described, not explained, or not
described at all.
2. Reliability of Content (4 points)
Going above and beyond functionality, content that is found on
the site must be reviewed for reliability by comparison. Learner
scores "Outstanding" where they identify and support (2
examples from each site) content reliability backed by evidence
– in order to score "Satisfactory" or better.
Provides judgments about the reliability of the content
supported by evidence. For example:
· Author credentials/evidence of expertise
· Reliability of sources
· Current/up-to-date?
· Citations to reliable sources
· Sponsors of website/parent organization.
At least 2 well-supported examples from each site
Provides judgments about the reliability of the content
supported by evidence. For example:
· Author credentials/evidence of expertise
· Reliability of sources
· Current/up-to-date?
· Citations to reliable sources
· Sponsors of website/parent organization.
At least 1 well-supported examples from each site

7. Provides judgments about the reliability of the content
supported by evidence. For example:
· Author credentials/evidence of expertise
· Reliability of sources
· Current/up-to-date?
· Citations to reliable sources
· Sponsors of website/parent organization.
At least 1 well-supported example
Little to no judgment provided about the reliability of the
content or judgments not supported by evidence.
3. Research & Theory (4 points)
Learner scores "Outstanding" where they identify an example
from each site that
Each of these resources can be used by education
professionals to test hypotheses or conduct research that
impacts their work.
Examples relate appropriately to the learning theories
discussed in this course that underlie their development and
use.
Both of the above examples must be adequately supported.
One resource from each site examined. Student determines
ways that each resource can be used by an education
professional to conduct research or possibly to test a hypothesis
relevant to their work in advanced detail with support. Each
example must be supported with learning theory from the
course.
One resource from each site examined. Student determines
ways that each resource can be used by an education
professional to conduct research or possibly to test a hypothesis
relevant to their work in some detail with some support. Each
example must be supported with learning theory from the
course.
One resource from each site examined. Student determines
ways that each resource can be used by an education

8. professional to conduct research or possibly to test a hypothesis
relevant to their work in some detail with some support. Each
example must be supported with learning theory from the
course. Minimal detail, weak support, or some required
components missing.
Neither resource acceptable, weak support and not supported
with learning theory.
4. Strengths & Limitations (4 points)
Learner scores "Outstanding" where they identify and support
one example of a useful resource and one example of the least
useful resource. Learner must show a relationship to the
readings or educational theory that was discussed in the course,
paying particular attention to technology's role. Examples must
be cited from course readings.
Identifies one useful resource and one least useful from each
site in advanced detail. Examples are supported by course
readings or learning theory. (Citations must accompany
readings/theory)
Identifies one useful resource and one least useful from each
site in detail. Examples are supported by course readings or
learning theory. (Citations must accompany readings/theory)
May be missing one or two required elements, but no more than
that.
Identifies one useful resource and one least useful from each
site. Examples are supported by course readings or learning
theory. (Citations must accompany readings/theory). May be
missing some required elements.
Description of strengths and limitations weak or not addressed
at all. (Weak or no examples/citations don't match or are not
present).
5. Stakeholders (4 points)
Learner scores "Outstanding" where they examine this
assignment for specific audiences. They show how the site can
become more inclusive or broaden its appeal to a wider range of
stakeholders such as students, parents, administrators or even

9. policy makers. Identifies why sponsors of the site aim to
include those potential stakeholders, Consideration for theory,
research, or educational technology. Support provided from
cited course readings to score "Satisfactory"
Identifies ways in (advanced detail) which each site can be
made more inclusive while relating what has been learned about
theory, research, or educational technology. Provides support
for assertions from cited course readings.
Identifies ways (some detail) in which each site can be made
more inclusive while relating what has been learned about
theory, research, or educational technology.
Provides support from cited course readings
Identifies ways in which each site can be made more inclusive
while relating what has been learned about theory, research, or
educational technology. Provides support for assertions from
cited course readings. Some support or relationships not well-
made.
Limited or no ways identified in which each site can be made
more inclusive. Support or relationships not identified.