Upgrade Plans for the District's Student Web Links Page

Several members of the Technology Study Group formed a committee to update the District's Student Web Links Page, which is easily available to all students using the elementary computer labs.  Other teachers are always welcome to be involved.

The intention is to provide students and teachers with easy access to top quality educational websites organized by grade level and subject.  New sites will be evaluated by teachers and checked against criteria developed by committee members in consultation with other teachers.

Some criteria for websites:

• "Only the Best" sites will be listed

• must have educational value related to curriculum

• promote higher-order thinking skills

• meaningful content that engages the students

• limited advertising and safe for student use

• graphic oriented — so students are not overwhelmed by excessive text

• easy to navigate

• non-violent and absolutely no embedded links to inappropriate material

• creators of the site content should be identified

We plan to remove some sites from the existing pages that have limited educational value or too much advertising (e.g. Fun School).

We would like some help in locating high quality sites and would welcome suggestions on organization and operation of the district's Student Web Links Page.  Please send us the URL's (web links) of excellent sites that you think would meet the criteria.  A very brief description of each link would helpful in organizing the sites — especially grade level and subject areas.

Email your links or comments to Bob Walton or Rosamar Garcia on RichNet.  The committee intends to check the sites, however, teachers should personally evaluate the sites, and have students test them, before submitting links for the Student Web Links page.