Website Evaluations for a Project
Website Evaluations for a Project
Embedded Files
When teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL), incorporating real-world topics like human rights can make lessons more meaningful for students. One of the key steps in creating these impactful lessons is evaluating the quality of the online resources we use.
In this entry, I'll share my process for evaluating websites, which is guided by the criteria outlined by Gavin Dudeney and Nicky Hockly in their book, "How to Teach English with Technology" (2007).
Dudeney and Hockly suggest that we look at several important factors when evaluating online resources: accuracy, currency, content and functionality. By carefully considering these criteria, I ensure that the materials I select are reliable, up-to-date, and educationally valuable.
Cover of the book "How to Teach English with Technology" (2007)
The purpose of this entry is to walk you through the exact steps I take when preparing materials for a human rights project. This meticulous process helps me create a curated collection of resources for my students, giving them access to high-quality information that not only enhances their language skills but also deepens their understanding of human rights issues. So, let's dive into the details of how I evaluate and select these resources.
Unit Title: Understanding Human Rights
Unit Title: Understanding Human Rights
This is the projected student group that was taken into consideration when creating this plan:
Age Group: Secondary school students (16 to 18 years old)
Location: Argentina
Language Level: Intermediate to upper-intermediate ESL students
Number of Students: 20
Duration: 80-minute lesson.
Materials: At least one device pair or group
Objectives:
Knowledge Objectives:
To define basic human rights in English.
To identify key human rights issues globally, focusing on relevant vocabulary.
To explain the significance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights using ESL-friendly language.
Skill Objectives:
To develop reading comprehension by analyzing using authentic material from the web.
To improve writing skills through essays and reports on human rights topics.
To enhance speaking and listening skills through ESL-focused discussions and presentations on human rights issues.
Research and Information Skills:
To evaluate the credibility of the online information they will use.
To distinguish between fact and opinion, identifying bias in sources.
To develop search strategies for human rights information using search engines and databases tailored for ESL learners.
To use advanced search operators and filters to refine results, with guidance for ESL students.
To properly cite digital sources and credit original creators, practicing APA style for ESL students.
Digital Communication and Presentation Skills:
To collaborate with peers using online platforms for research and the creation of their learning outcomes.
To create engaging presentations using digital tools (PowerPoint, Google Slides, Prezi).
Websites Analysis
Websites Analysis
To evaluate the websites using the guidelines from Dudeney & Hockly (2007) in "How to Teach English with Technology," we consider the following criteria:
Accuracy
Currency
Content
Functionality
1. United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)
1. United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR)
Website URL: OHCHR
Description: The OHCHR website offers authoritative information on global human rights issues, including reports, treaties, guidelines, and news updates from the United Nations.
Accuracy: The OHCHR is the leading entity on human rights issues within the United Nations, ensuring highly accurate and authoritative content.
Currency: The website is regularly updated with the latest reports, statements, and news related to human rights, ensuring the content is current.
Content: The site provides comprehensive coverage of global human rights issues, including reports, treaties, guidelines, and news updates.
Functionality: The website is well-organized with a clear menu structure and search functionality, making it easy to navigate.
2. Amnesty International
2. Amnesty International
Website URL: Amnesty International
Description: Amnesty International provides detailed research and advocacy on human rights abuses worldwide, featuring extensive reports, news articles, and campaign materials.
Accuracy: Amnesty International is a renowned organization known for its meticulous research and reporting on human rights abuses worldwide.
Currency: The website is frequently updated with the latest campaigns, reports, and news, ensuring information is current.
Content: Extensive resources on various human rights issues, including detailed reports, news articles, and advocacy materials.
Functionality: User-friendly interface with well-organized content, robust search features, and easy navigation.
3. Human Rights Watch
3. Human Rights Watch
Website URL: Human Rights Watch
Description: Human Rights Watch offers in-depth analyses, reports, and advocacy materials on global and regional human rights violations, maintained by a respected international NGO.
Accuracy: Human Rights Watch is respected for its in-depth research and reporting on human rights violations, ensuring high accuracy.
Currency: Regularly updated with the latest reports, news, and analyses, maintaining currency.
Content: In-depth coverage of global and regional human rights issues, with detailed reports, articles, and advocacy tools.
Functionality: The site features a clear layout, effective search tools, and organized content categories.
4. Youth for Human Rights
4. Youth for Human Rights
Website URL: Youth for Human Rights
Description: This website focuses on educating youth about human rights through interactive videos, lesson plans, and activities aimed at fostering understanding and advocacy.
Accuracy: Youth for Human Rights provides educational content on human rights, though it's important to cross-verify with more authoritative sources for accuracy.
Currency: The website appears to be updated regularly, though specific update dates are not always clear.
Content: Focuses on educational resources for teaching youth about human rights, including videos, lesson plans, and activities.
Functionality: The site is well-structured with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to find educational materials.
5. UNICEF: Child Rights and Human Rights Explained
5. UNICEF: Child Rights and Human Rights Explained
Website URL: UNICEF
Description: UNICEF’s site features comprehensive resources on children's rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, educational materials, and reports aimed at protecting and promoting children's welfare.
Accuracy: UNICEF is a leading authority on children's rights, ensuring highly accurate and reliable information.
Currency: The website is regularly updated to reflect the latest information and developments in child rights.
Content: Comprehensive resources on children's rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, educational materials, and reports.
Functionality: Well-organized with a clear menu and search function, allowing easy access to extensive resources.
6. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - United Nations
6. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) - United Nations
Website URL: UDHR
Description: This United Nations site provides the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, along with historical context and related educational resources.
Accuracy: The UDHR site is maintained by the United Nations, ensuring the highest accuracy in the presentation of this foundational human rights document.
Currency: As a historical document, the content does not require frequent updates, but the site is maintained to reflect its ongoing relevance.
Content: Provides the full text of the UDHR in multiple languages, along with historical context and related resources.
Functionality: Simple, clear layout focused on providing access to the document and related information.
7. Equal Rights Trust
7. Equal Rights Trust
Website URL: Equal Rights Trust
Description: The Equal Rights Trust offers detailed research, case studies, and advocacy on equal rights issues, focusing on combating discrimination and promoting equality.
Accuracy: The Equal Rights Trust provides detailed research and advocacy on equal rights, ensuring accurate information.
Currency: Regularly updated with the latest reports, news, and advocacy efforts.
Content: Comprehensive coverage of equal rights issues, including research reports, case studies, and advocacy materials. However, the content you can find there is tailored for lawyers and people who want to educate themselves on how to apply Equality Law, which is not relevant to the objectives of this project and might prove too complicated for the learners.
Functionality: The site is well-organized, with a clear structure and effective search functionality.
8. The Advocates for Human Rights
8. The Advocates for Human Rights
Website URL: The Advocates for Human Rights
Description: This website provides extensive resources on human rights education, advocacy, and legal support, featuring reports, toolkits, and training materials.
Accuracy: The Advocates for Human Rights is known for its thorough research and advocacy, ensuring accurate information.
Currency: The website is regularly updated with new reports, resources, and news.
Content: Extensive resources on human rights issues, including educational materials, reports, and advocacy tools.
Functionality: User-friendly with a clear layout, effective search tools, and well-organized content.
9. Wordwall Children's Rights Resource
9. Wordwall Children's Rights Resource
Website URL: Wordwall - Children's Rights
Description: This Wordwall quiz provides an interactive matching activity on children's rights, aimed at educating students through engaging, user-generated content.
Accuracy: The resource on Wordwall about children's rights is user-generated content. The accuracy of the information depends on the original author's expertise and diligence. Therefore, it was crucial to verify the content against reliable sources on children's rights.
Currency: The currency of the content is not explicitly stated. Wordwall does not display dates for when the resources were created or last updated. This can be a limitation when ensuring the information is up-to-date.
Content: The resource provides an interactive quiz format focusing on children’s rights. The quiz presents the titles of different children's rights and the students have to match them with the right picture. The depth and comprehensiveness of the content might be limited by the interactive format but can be effective for engaging learners in basic understanding.
Functionality: his resource appears to function well, providing a straightforward quiz experience. The platform supports various interactive formats, which enhances the learning process.
10. The Fair: A Game to Explore Human Rights - Council of Europe
10. The Fair: A Game to Explore Human Rights - Council of Europe
Website URL: The Fair: A Game to Explore Human Rights
Description: This interactive game by the Council of Europe is designed to teach young people about human rights through engaging gameplay and educational activities.
Accuracy: The game is created by the Council of Europe, ensuring accurate information on human rights.
Currency: Regular updates may be limited, but the educational content remains relevant.
Content: Interactive educational game designed to teach young people about human rights.
Functionality: Interactive and user-friendly, with clear instructions and engaging gameplay.
Conclusion:
Each website evaluated offers valuable resources on human rights, with varying focuses and strengths. Sites maintained by established organizations like the UN, UNICEF, and major NGOs provide the most authoritative and regularly updated content. Interactive and educational sites, while engaging, should be cross-referenced with these reliable sources to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
If you want to see some example lessons for this project, click below to see them below
Reference list:
Amnesty International. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org
Dudeney, G., & Hockly, N. (2007). How to teach English with technology. Harlow: Pearson Longman.
Equal Rights Trust. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.equalrightstrust.org
Human Rights Watch. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org
Profvivisuarez. (2020, September 15). CHILDREN's RIGHTS. Retrieved from https://wordwall.net/resource/4307121/childrens-rights
The Advocates for Human Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.theadvocatesforhumanrights.org
The Fair: A game to explore human rights. (2021, December 10). Youth. Retrieved from https://www.coe.int
UNICEF. (n.d.). Child rights and human rights explained. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention
United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR). (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Youth for Human Rights. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youthforhumanrights.org
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse