Peer Review

Installing a Privacy Policy and Google Analytics on your WordPress Site

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Reviewed:: Jun 8, 2012 by Business

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This material provides detailed directions on the steps necessary to install Google analytics and a privacy policy on a WordPress blog. If you plan on using Google Analytics, you will need a privacy policy on your website to ensure you are not violating Google’s terms of agreement. See http://searchengineland.com/how-many-google-privacy-policies-are-you-violating-50182 for further information about this issue. This exercise walks through the steps associated with installing Google Analytics and a Privacy Policy on a WordPress blog.
Type of Material:: Exercise or assignment
Recommended Uses:: This assignment is designed to be incorporated into any classes, business or otherwise, that utilize a WordPress blog and wish to track the usage of the blog. Further, portions of this assignment could be incorporated into other Internet-focused courses. For instance, the material regarding privacy policies could be useful for a website design course. Lastly, this material does not have to be treated as an assignment and could instead be viewed as a how-to guide.
Technical Requirements:: Users need Internet access along with access to a WordPress blog. Further, users need a Google account which will allow then to set up Google analytics.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Learn the steps necessary to create a privacy policy and connect it to a WordPress blog site. The learning goals include: 1. Understanding the importance of a privacy policy; 2. Ability to set up a privacy policy; 3. Beginning to understand the value of Google analytics; 4. Ability to add Google analytics to a WordPress blog.
Target Student Population:: The assignment would be relevant for both graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in courses utilizing a WordPress blog. For instance, this specific assignment was designed for an Internet marketing course. It could also be employed in an undergraduate marketing or communication course.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: A basic knowledge of the Internet and website analytics would make this assignment easier to digest. Further, it is assumed that users have access to and are actively utilizing a WordPress blog.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: The instructions are clear and contain current links. In the appropriate setting, this is very useful information. While this assignment is very narrow in focus, it is very detailed when it comes to directions. The author provides a thorough, step-by-step guide to accomplishing the outlined objectives.
Concerns:: The material would seem to have a limited target audience given its narrow focus. The module requires significant context.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: After completing the assignment, students should be competent in installing privacy policies and Google analytics. The site is a resource that relies upon the fact that prior knowledge and skills have been built within the course. It is efficient and easy to write assignments for.
Concerns:: The module assumes knowledge about WordPress and Google Analytics. The effectiveness of the introduction to the Google analytics portion of the assignment is contingent upon future assignments that would delve into the detailed use of the analytics. Basically, once installed, students will need more direction as to what it all means.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The assignment is very detailed and written in user-friendly language. One does not have to be an Internet expert to accomplish the learning objectives. Links are provided to websites that provide additional information on various topics.
Concerns:: The Free Privacy Policy Generator directions require some additional information that the instructor obviously incorporates into a class lecture. Depending on the knowledge of the instructor adopting this material, this could become an issue. The module could be more interactive or visually interesting.

Other Issues and Comments:: While this assignment is narrow in focus, it is very thorough.
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