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Data Flow on the Internet

 

Ratings

Overall Rating:

4.75 stars
Content Quality: 5 stars
Effectiveness: 4.5 stars
Ease of Use: 4.75 stars
Reviewed: Dec 03, 2007 by Business Editorial Board
Overview: is a very easy to understand, pictorial description of how packets flow across the Internet.
Learning Goals: To provide Accounting educators with a tutorial that can be incorporated into their E-Commerce and Information Systems classes to enhance understanding of the Internet process.
Target Student Population: Students in E-Commerce and Information Systems classes.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: None.
Type of Material: Animation, tutorial
Recommended Uses: Educational resources that can be incorporated into classroom use in form of a tutorial and/or lecture notes to stimulate discussion regarding the Internet process.
Technical Requirements: Web Browser and Flash software.

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Rating: 5 stars
Strengths: Author provides a summary of the Internet data flow process related to basic information technology, accounting information systems and e-commerce classes in a concise and engaging manner. The modules uses pictures to describe the workings of the internet. In less than five minutes, the viewer will understand more about the “behind the scenes” of the internet and will have likely smiled a couple times.
Concerns: None.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating: 4.5 stars
Strengths: The module engages the reader by asking questions such as “What happens when you press the enter key?” It uses interesting analogies (highways, vehicles, police, tollbooths) that the viewer can easily understand. Overal, the module also does a nice job introducing the terminology and most acronyms. Teachers and students could learn a great deal in a short time.
Concerns:
  • Links to sites containing more detailed information regarding the Internet process are needed in order to stimulate further research.
  • Slide 4 doesn't explain what DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) means.
  • Slide 5 doesn't explain what IP (Internet Protocol) means and it is used later in other slides.

  • Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

    Rating: 4.75 stars
    Strengths: This module is delightful and interactive. With sounds and images galore, it engages the viewer while educating. The audio and graphics entice the user to read through the short lesson in its entirety.
    Concerns: Lacks links to sites containing more detailed information in order to stimulate further learning.

    Other Issues and Comments:
  • A quick, fun, easily accessible learning module.
  • The following Wikipedia links provide more detailed information regarding the Internet and data packets, which you may find useful:
    1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet
    2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Packet_%28information_technology%29
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