Rubric Analysis

Developer’s Name:  Education.com Inc.

URL:  https://www.education.com/

Area/Content of Site: A Limitless World of Learning

Purpose: To provide a fair assessment on the website : education.com

Name of Participant:  Heather Agard

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Summary

It is quite evident from the first click that the goal of the website is clearly shown on the homepage. The site is very user friendly with several visual options that piques the curiosity of the user even if they are casually browsing.  The design display is easy on the eye, well set-up and allows the user to read or access the information quickly. The page is not too cluttered and offers several links to help the user further explore the site.  The links also download at a rapid pace, almost instantaneously.  The search engines are readily accessible, and this makes navigation quite easy, providing access to other sites.  The content on each page is varied, and many options are offered for the users to choose.  Although this website was not created by a school teacher, the author is identified as the company  Education.com. The website also provides adequate information on who they are under the Company link in the footer and includes adequate information on how to contact them through their contact page.

There is no evidence of dates on the pages.  Apart from the general information on the website which shared that thousands of resources are added daily to keep users up to date, there is no other indication which shows how often materials/ resources are added.  Unfortunately, based on the rubric, there are no specific accessibility options for persons with disabilities. Many of the resources have pictures which cannot be read/interpreted by the programs used by those with disabilities such as blindness or deafness. Despite this, the text on the site is laid out in a way that it can be read by screen readers. 

Recommendation

I would strongly recommend this website to the target aged group 2 – 11 years as well as to teachers, tutors and parents.  Based on my experience, this platform is an excellent source for users who are looking for organised academic resources.

It is very easy to use, and the information is presented in a simple way that allows users to navigate from one link to the other with little to no challenges.  Each subject area is carefully created and presented so that users are fully engaged with the plethora of activities.  

The feature of tracking the progress of students and suggesting additional resources to build on the deficits is definitely an invaluable tool for the teacher and parent.  The knowledge of knowing where the child/student is at and the provision of alternative worksheets can also build the confidence of the child as they have more opportunity to improve their learning. 

 

The price of eight ($8) US a month or five ($5) US a month for the Annual fee is value for money.  Some may consider it pricey but when weighed against all of the resources you will have access to, it is a good investment for your child.

I would further recommend to make this website even more popular, that more accessibility be provided for those with disabilities who are also a special part of our communities.  As each one matters, consideration should be given to creating alternative text-only materials that will allow compatibility with sites created/designed for the differently able. 

In addition, a date stamp can also be added to the resources so that users can see when they are created.  At present, the materials /resources are categorised for example: most popular or most recent but no actual date is visible.  Adding the date can provide a current timeline for users and provide further proof that the materials they are using are indeed up to date.

All in all, this website would score a 4 out of 5 in my estimation.