Having explored several capstone websites, write a blog about who you think the audience of your capstone is going to be and why. Also, what content do you think you will need to have on your website in order to engage and teach them about your research.
Reviewing the finished products of other capstone websites was very helpful to me and helped me consider which elements were the most useful to me. My audience is going to be elementary school teachers, but evaluating Ann Dearborn’s project made me question whether if even that is too broad. My research project and DQ are geared toward upper elementary teachers (grades 3-5). I initially wanted to design a site that would be especially helpful for my fellow Read 180 teachers (grades 3-5) because it is focuses on using some student data points that are unique to that program. While some of my tools are adaptable to younger grades, the type of data analysis/feedback conversations are really more appropriate for slightly older students. The content that was most engaging to me from the websites I viewed were the practical “ready to use” features. For example, video tutorial links on how to use a certain digital tool, printable kid friendly rubrics, and easy to find links that led directly to recommended resources. I appreciated Ann Dearborn’s preview feature to her links (with the chain graphic) so that you didn’t have to click in deeper. Having the most information at the top was useful because sometimes users don’t take the time to scroll down the page and might miss something. I really do want my content to be clear, concise and a practical how-to toolkit. I guess that comes from my years of teaching struggling readers!
4 Comments
Jenny
2/17/2017 04:52:30 pm
Like you, I find the most value in visiting sites that are practical to my needs and contain how-to information, ready to use materials like printables or rubrics as well as recommended resources.
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Devorah Avrukin
2/18/2017 12:22:06 pm
Dana,
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Florencia
2/19/2017 02:30:01 pm
I experienced the same feeling of having to look further for specific information on the LIL sites I visited. I am wondering if this is due to the way the template is designed. All of the sites have the basic format and we need to add the information. It looks like in order for us to get to certain places we need to click two or three times. We will have to be creative with our own site to make the information more accessible to our readers, don't you think?
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Most educators who have a decent grasp on their pedagogy don't really need to spend too much time discussing it further. (Not that we don't think there's always something more to learn...) The most practical things are what you called, "ready to use." Those are the things we want, things that we can put into use in our classrooms right away, things that we hadn't thought of, but wished we did!
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Dana HandI teach Read 180 at Northwood Elementary School and I am passionate about reading (obviously!) In my "free time" I love hanging out with my 2 teenagers and taking our two dogs for long walks. Archives
March 2017
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