Web Evaluation- For EDLD 5306, Week Two

One of the websites I chose to evaluate was Critical Issue: Realizing New Learning for All Students Through Professional Development.

This website focused on creating and evaluating professional development that focuses on differentiation and teachers working with students. The website has an opening statement about its mission/purpose, it has several short videos and it also has links to additional websites with more specific professional development goals in mind. I felt its focus was quite relevant to what we had been discussing in our class.

I liked this website due to the fact that it did focus on the differentiation piece. I also thought that this website was easy to navigate and although links were integrated through the reading when appropriate, the changing of font color made them easy to locate and click on if more information was needed. I enjoyed the fact they were focused on professional development to help students. Many of the websites I looked at just focused on the guidelines and modeling professional development for administrators.

I did not like the fact that you were unable to "search" on this site. Although the site is small and easy to manage, it would have been nice to be able to type in a topic and have it even link you to some of the additional sites it offered. This website also seemed to be old in visual appearance, and although information is still highly relevant, the look of the website could use an overhaul.

This websites value is still relevant. As I stated, this website discusses the use of differentiation. Before differentiation became a buzz word in education (the website was founded in 1996). I think that much of what we have read and studied in this class focuses us on how we, as teachers, can improve for our students and this website proved beneficial for us currently. I would recommend this website to others, especially those who may be needing to present to other peers on their campus...it certainly gives a different perspective to professional development.

We are almost to February!

Andrew is almost 3 and a half and Madison will soon be 15 months. Its so hard to believe that they are growing so fast. I put the kids in cute shirts, took them out and had them sit in front of our house on a bench to take a picture for Valentines Day. Aren't they just so sweet. Andrew was more than happy to pose, Madison was too busy flirting with the wind and watching the dog. Hope everyone has a great start the the next month. Hugs from all of us here!

Ringing in the New Year!

Okay, I told you all that this would be a difficult thing for me to keep up with but I think I can get back on track. I have some pictures of the kids from Christmas so I'll try to get those up as soon as possible. We had a great holiday season...it was such a special time of year with so much family here and then Andrew actually "getting" the whole Santa thing. You should have seen his face light up! What an amazing blessing...both of our kids are so wonderful. Madison has learned by watching her brother, she tears into those packages and it doesn't take her long to get through all the presents. We are into January...in fact, it's half gone all ready. Hard to believe we are in full swing. Hope everyone has had a great start to 2009, may you all have a blessed and exciting year! Hugs from the King's!