Peer Review

Using Templates to Produce Web-Publishable Multimedia Projects

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Reviewed:: Mar 29, 2009 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This website is designed to provide the user with information, examples, and directions related to using templates to produce Web-publishable multimedia projects. The website is divided into four sections: a) tutorials and examples, b) free templates to download, c)examples of class projects, d) learning more.
Type of Material:: Tutorial. The website is text based. The information on the website is created for elementary teachers who wish to use templates.
Recommended Uses:: The tutorials could be used by teachers to create handouts and teaching materials, or teachers could use the tutorials to help their students create documents, audio and visual files and web pages. Pre-service teachers may find the examples by students interesting and may benefit from the variety of examples available on the website.
Technical Requirements:: There are minimal technical requirements needed to use this website. The file attachments are documents created in Microsoft Word. The website is text based therefore no additional downloads are needed to support content.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Users of this website would be able to create print, audio and visual files as well as web pages to support learning and teaching. The information presented on the site provides a comprehensive overview about the use of templates and examples of completed projects (by elementary students).
Target Student Population:: Teacher education students who have little time or money to experiment with software to create materials or web pages. Upper elementary students and above could use the tutorials and templates to complete class projects.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Ability to read and follow directions. Ability to download and save files from the Internet to either a CD or a USB drive.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: Tutorials provide step-by-step instructions for completing a variety of tasks, but the vocabulary is not always simple and easy to follow. Projects are more utilitarian than conceptual. Skill development may increase with additional uses and applications, but step-by-step instructions alone will not likely increase transferable skills.
Concerns:: Some of the instructions contain jargon, which may not be easily understood by inexperienced users. The content is text heavy. Some of the materials with multimedia elements are not functioning correctly. The images, video and Quicktime elements which do not load can distract from the content.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: The strength of these tutorials is that they all rely on free, easily accessed and common digital tools for producing materials of acceptable quality. The website has been well maintained to include current tools such as Audacity and Picasa to support multi-media development on a budget. Tutorials will work equally well in a Windows or a Mac environment. The website can be used by individuals who are new to technology and are text-based learners.
Concerns:: Tutorials are not always easy to read, and the vocabulary might prove to be a challenge for younger users. With the explosion of free tools for designing graphics, animations and other digital applications, many students might be less enthusiastic about the basic results.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: Instructions are generally clear and will get the user to an acceptable end product if followed.
Concerns:: Instructions were not always easy to read and follow due to font and lack of white space to guide the eyes. Technical terms or jargon could get in the way of comprehension for some users. The primary concern with the site is the amount of text. All of the content is text based. There are no multimedia elements to reinforce the content presented on the site. From an instructional design point of view, the website is difficult to navigate it is one long website. The use of buttons and separate pages would be helpful in presenting the content. The layout of the website is not user friendly. The site does not present information that would be attractive to students.

Other Issues and Comments:: The basics provided in the tutorials are effective, and the authors have included useful, if not always easy-to-use tools. However, there are many new tools for digital graphic and audio materials that are free, easy to use and produce dynamic results. Including simple steps for using some these tools could enhance this site.
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