Learn Spanish
Quality of Content:
1. Does the software present valid (correct) concepts, models, and skills?
Yes. This website is a safe/user friendly resource that allows both students and teachers to practice vocabulary, recognize common mistakes and have access to other resources to enhance their Spanish learning skills.
2. Does the software present educationally significant concepts, models, and skills for the discipline?
Yes. This website provides students and teachers with access to general Spanish 1 topics, as well as additional resources for grammar and vocabulary practice.
Yes. This website provides students and teachers with access to general Spanish 1 topics, as well as additional resources for grammar and vocabulary practice.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool:
1. What stage(s) in the learning process/cycle could the materials be used?
The resources available on this website would be more effectively utilized for student in the beginning stages of the learning process. Most of the vocabulary lists are basic Spanish that could be used for students in a Spanish 1 course. However, there are also great grammar tips that could be used by beginner Spanish learners, as well as teachers and educators who are proficient in the language. There are also additional resources that provide access to online chat rooms where you can practice your Spanish with a native speaker. This resource could be used for any level.
2. What is(are) the learning objective(s)? What should students be able to do after successfully learning with the materials?
The learning objectives for this website may vary due to accessibility of multiple content topics. However, some learning objectives may follow along the lines of the following: Students will be able to identify the weather terms in Spanish, Students will recognize the difference between Ser and Estar. With these learning materials, students should be able to expand their grammar and vocabulary skills.
3. What are the characteristics of the target learner(s)
The target audience would be Spanish students between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. While the website provides a majority of beginner level resources, this website could also be used as a review for any Spanish student at any level.
4. Does the interactive/media-rich presentation of material improve faculty and students' abilities to teach and learn the materials?
Yes. Both students and faculty can benefit from this website. Faculty can use this website for tutorials and additional explanations that will help emphasize the importance of different grammar structures. Students can also use the website to practice vocabulary, grammar and even chat with a native Speaker to enhance communication.
5. Can the use of the software be readily integrated into current curriculum and pedagogy within the discipline?
Yes, this website could easily be integrated into the curriculum because it can be used in multiple ways. The teacher could use it as a reference, a visual aid of explanation or even as an activity site.
6. Can the software be used in a variety of ways to achieve teaching and learning goals?
Yes. The variation of resources on this website can help achieve successful learning in reading, writing, comprehension and speaking in the target language. This website also covers common mistakes, vocabulary, grammar and culture.
7. Are the teaching-learning goals easy to identify?
No, the website contains many resources that the teacher can use in his or her class. Therefore, the teacher would need to identify these goals himself/herself depending on the topic.
8. Can good learning assignments for using the software application be written easily?
Yes. The website itself could be a whole activity in itself. For an example, the students could use the vocabulary lists as guides, use online chat rooms to practice the use of the language and access tutorials that provide further explanation to a new grammar concept.
Ease of Use:
1. Are the labels, buttons, menus, text, and general layout of the computer interface consistent and visually distinct?
Yes, the website is very easy to navigate; all areas are labeled.
2. Does the user get trapped in the material? Can the user get lost easily in the material?
Since there are many different resources on the website in the same format, it is possible that a user can get easily lost in the material. I think it is important that the teacher be specific when describing what resource the students will be using in order to help direct them.
3. Does the module provide feedback about the system status and the user's responses?
No, there is no feedback provided on this website.
4. Does the module provide appropriate flexibility in its use?
Yes, this website can be used in many different ways. It can be used as an additional resource to help explain new material and it can be used as an activity or extra practice for students. It also can be used amongst many students or students can use the material individually.
5. Does the learning material require a lot of documentation, technical support, and/or instruction for most students to successfully use the software?No, the website provides direct access to the material so no additional technical support will be needed.
6. Does the material present information in ways that are familiar for students?
Yes, the website presents most of its resources through charts which are often used in foreign language classrooms.
7. Does the material present information in ways that would be attractive to students?
Most of the materials present on this website aren't engaging because they are typically used as additional resources that provide information to help aid any confusion. The only engaging material would be the online chat room where students can practice their Spanish.
This website provides great additional resources for both students and teachers at all levels of Spanish. Through the materials on this website, students can expand their knowledge by learning additional facts about culture, grammar and vocabulary. I would definitely like to use this website as a visual when teaching new material. I would also like to explore the online chat room because I believe this would be a great feature to integrate into the classroom.
