Title of Page

Presenter

Susan Cornett

Email address

EWTech@dol.net

URL

www.lightspan.com

Description

Grade level

Benefits

The site is easy to navigate and the steps to creating your own web page were fairly clear and simple to understand.

You are given a limited choice of colors and graphics with which to personalize your site. Links are already set up for you but you may delete one or all of these links and add your own links as well. Because the finished product is very professional looking I think the overall affect would appeal most to high school and college students, although the site has much to offer elementary students.

I feel the real strength of this site is in the other services it offers. For teachers there are projects, tools, learning activities, printable worksheets, lesson plans etc. There are also resources for parents and a Homework Zone for kids.

My favorite feature of the site are the monthly offerings of software, schools can order for "free" (That is for a $4.95 per CD-ROM shipping & > handling fee.)

Overall this site was easy, interesting and useful.

Negatives

Title of Page

Presenter

Wendy Modzelewski

Email Address

wmod@dcet.k12.de.us

URL

http://schoolnotes.com

Description

Site provides:

• One page for general notes
• Favorite link section
• Click to email the teacher

Sorted by school zip code and teacher name

Grade level

All

Benefits

• Easier than a full web page
• Simple to maintain
• Would work well for homework assignments, non graphical newsletters, website recommendations, and parental updates.
• Student Research Section includes language translators, converters, flags, metric conversion chart
• Teacher lesson plan section

Negatives

• Limited space
• No graphics
• Advertising – difficult to tell if items are free or fee based

Title of Page

Presenter

Karen Jessee

Email address

kljessee@rcn.com

URL

http://www.myschoolonline.com/

Description

A user-friendly, free resource for elementary through junior high teachers. This site provides a creative variety of services and products, set up a gradebook, read up on the latest in methods and standards, and view the “best sites showcase” – creative and successful sites designed by other teachers. Students who log on can get help with homework, and PTA’s can establish their newletters.

Grade level

K-8

Benefits

• the format of the pages was very simple. 
• Screens were easy to read and not overly busy with either graphics or ads.
• For the elementary teacher who just wanted to "get this done" and "get this out there" myschoolonline.com seemed to be the way to go.
• Offers online fundraisers

Negatives

none

Title of Page

Presenter

Joe Ambrosino

Email address

jomusic@earthlink.net

URL

http://www.thinkwave.com

Description

A web-based gradebook program

Grade level

K-12

Benefits

• With the ThinkWave gradebook application, a teacher can create a gradebook and enters all the students, classes, grades, handouts, assignments, schedules, and any other information s/he would like to track.
• Students and Parents can login at any time to see their grades, attendance, and assignments - and can send messages to the teacher.
• Teachers can communicate easily and regularly with students and parents.
• Students can stay up-to-date in class and improve academic performance.
• Parents can stay involved in their child's education.

Negatives

• Free
• professional look with navigation buttons along the side
• look can be customized with different colored buttons and deleting or adding buttons as needed
• no advertisements at all(YES!!!)
• can be locked out to the public if desired in which students must sign up with an access code given to the student by the instructor
• online discussion forum & chat room abilities
• students register themselves
• automatically creates an address book for the entire class
• can email directly through the website
• can easily insert links, pictures, word documents, powerpoints, excel, spreadsheets, etc.
• create the site with little to no knowledge of web page construction.
• just fill out a series of forms and you are ready to go!!
  will read html and javascript.(if one is advanced enough, they can add more advanced features without paying by using html and javascript)
• this site has 4 servers online so it's fast!

• limited memory on server unless the fee is paid-space is sufficient for most people's needs!
• must be accessed at least once every 30 days or the site may disappear.