Peer Review

Animated Technical Dictionary

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Dec 3, 2002 by Information Technology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This "Animated Technical Dictionary" is based upon the children's learning
concept: "How Things Work". Topics such as The Internet, networking, data
communications and telecommunications are introduced in an animated very
"flashy" way.

It is also a vast resource for Internet information, data networking,
telecommunications, and other complex systems that uses a new concept in Web
page technology, "free form" learning systems. This highly interactive site
uses multimedia to explain over 800 terms with 250,000 real photos and Flash
effects to integrate an exciting way to do computer based training.
Type of Material:: The material is organized as a dictionary or glossary. The student selects a
letter and then receives a list of topics that begin with that letter and then
chooses the topic.

The materials could be used for lecture material or for a review to students
after class.
Recommended Uses:: This material could be used within a class to introduce the concept for a class
discussion. It also is very useful to reinforce concepts independently.The
Animated Technical Dictionary is truly an incredible resource for use within
a lecture, or to use as an out-of-class tutorial.
Technical Requirements:: The material is browser based with at least Flash version 5, Java and
Macromedia's Shockwave Plug-In.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The learning goals are to introduce students to the workings of complex
technological topics such as; Internet information, data networking,
telecommunications, and advanced protocols. Students can select the topic they
want to review.
Target Student Population:: Undergraduate or Graduate students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: The student needs a basic understanding of networking concepts to fully
understand the material. The main targeted audience would have to have some
introductory networking and Internet understanding before they would grasp most
of the information on this site.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The topics are very relavent and well done.Presently there are 821
networking/Internet terms explained and animated using
such technology as Macromedia's Shockwave Plug-In and over 250,000 real photos.

A student could spend countless hours exploring the content of this site! What
an excellent way to learn more about the Internet!
Concerns:: N.A.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Students should like the animation and "flash" of the topics. The animation and
images help with the learning process.

Most tutorials can turn into a tedious page turning exercise, but not on this
site. The information is very accurate and simply put, exciting. This is a
professionally created site that has a plethera of information to any instructor
teaching/learning about networking and new Internet technologies. The site was
very up-to-date also.
Concerns:: Some topics move very quickly and must be re-played to read all the comments.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: Very easy to use.The site begins with a large graphic of the alphabet that is
very intuitive to use to find the term that you are searching. If you are on a
slower connection speed, the screen will state the waiting time for the
multimedia file to begin.
Concerns:: Slow downloading of material will limit its usefulness for many dial-up
students.

Some topics move too rapidly for slow readers. Students would have to re-play
to read all the comments.

A slow modem connection is not impossible on this site, but it could take up to
one minute to download the interactive files, but it is worth waiting for.

Other Issues and Comments:: Very well done. Pedagogy is sound. Material is very useful and helpful. The
best site I have reviewed in IST thus far! WOW!
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