Blog # 6

Wow! What a helpful resource that website it! I am profoundly amazed that there is a whole website dedicated to making sure that teachers have all the resources they need in order to make the correct decision about which computer software to purchase. This is a a time saver becuase all of the resources are located on one sheet but not only that it's perfect for teachers. It's well known that teachers don't have a huge budget, websites like this make it easier for teachers to decide whether or not they will buy a program. By having check sheets and questions already made up it makes evaluation of a program much easier and time effective. This resource helps to save money instead of making an educated guess on which software is best for your class. This website makes it easier to see whether the advertising is false or whether it used minimal standards when testing for results of product.
I really really enjoyed the link on the website titled www.ecs.org this link gave about thirty questions for teachers to ask themselves when reviewing the program. Questions based on how to make technology more useful in the classroom, whether the technology is useful, whether the technology is time effective, will it improve my goals for the year let alone enhance student scores? The check list of questions is phenomenal. They are questions that are highly relavant.
The next favorite resorces link that was featured on this website was www.child'ssoftware.com. It offers a long and detailed check off list to use when deciding on whether or not to purchase the software. This link breaks it down into sections. A few of the subtitle sections are: Ease of Use, Child proof, educational, and entertaining. This link is very intriguing because a few of the check off items are funny but well needed. The check off list is easy to read and seems like it could done in a few minutes. It seemed to me to the quickest and most effective way to go about selecting a new software or program.
Lastly, I wanted to talk about the very first link, Technology in Education. This is quite valuable becuase it shows you how to judge whether or not a program is effective or not. I like that it shows red flags when software claims seem a little unclear or skewed. It reeally examines if the technology is inflating actual results or stating false results. The software takes all of the guess work out of purchasing technology. It even breaks down the cost by showing purchase price, estimated future maintence and future upgrades.
I am impressed that this website is out there with all of these helpful links. A teacher doesn't have a lot of time to double check the effectiveness let alone if it's new technology they might not know what to look for, this website does their homework in a sense. It's like insurance. It already has thought about for them. Also, it's looking after the teachers budgeted money, that way he or she doesn't spend what little budget they have on bunk software.