Evaluation of Computer Assisted Language Learning
Website review project
It is an evaluation of CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) website. Do
a thorough evaluation for the website (this
website: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/ ). Your evaluation should include:
Description for the front page.
Describing the components.
How are the activities structured?
Which Level is it intended for?
Is it collective or for single skill?
How do you think it would be useful for your teaching class?
Advantages and disadvantages.
Any other information, which you think it is important.
Also, format the paper according to MLA, in essay form, use simple vocabulary and
structure, and it should be in 5 pages.
Solution
Introduction
The main aim of the project is to address the needs of the website users both by
improving the online engagement and by enhancing the functionalities of the site. This project
analyzed the Purdue OWL website that assists its web users with writing skills.
Front-Page Description
The welcoming page of the website is well structured with a clear description of the
navigation pathways to various areas of interest. It begins with an outline of the services
provided by the site and description of how one can move from one search area to the next. On
the left-hand side of the front page, there are various site engines for general writing, research,
and citation, resources for teachers and tutors down the list to the last one on giving to the online
writing lab (OWL). Below the search tab, are the suggested resources on different guides
regarding writing various styles. The front page also contains the mission of the Purdue
University Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) ("The Purdue OWL: General Writing", p.
1).
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In general, the front page sets a nice introduction of the institution and the value of its
writers by the kind of services it offers to the market. The color scheme utilized is quite attractive
and the provisions of the navigation tabs make it easy to peruse through the website. The
navigation contains necessary information one may need to use it. The navigation provides
information on how to go through the website and guides one on where to find certain
information based on one's need. This makes the front page appear pleasing as it welcomes an
audience to the site.
Describing the Components
The various components have been described in details. For instance, the writing process
under the search engine general writing resources gives details on how better to develop research
questions and outlines. It provides a general writing structure for pre-writing, organizing work
and revising. This part is well linked to the relevant components, which contain details on
specific writing assignment areas (The Purdue OWL: General Writing p. 2). Even a first time
visitor to the website can be able to discover what the website is trying to accomplish within a
very short period of interaction with the page.
The fundamentals of the website are well functional with the hyperlinks working
accordingly with the provision of a pertinent content. This makes it easy for one to accomplish
the reasons for visiting the website with ease. Thus, a visitor to the site will be caught up and
tend to go beyond the homepage. This is because the site highlights the subject matter and an
easy-to-read experience and it abides by the consolidated principles.
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The Activities Structure
The activities on this site have been structured in a chronological order linking to one
another depending on the content of the specific areas. The content is well fragmented among
various pages and subpages thus enhancing the page view. For instance, the front page contains
the profile of the institution and its mission towards services delivery. In addition, it provides a
contact tab, which is a requirement for a well-developed website.
Level it is intended for
The site is designed for all levels found in a society ranging from the students and
members of the community and all other fellows who may need an assistant in the writing of
projects. It is also helpful to teachers and tutors as it provides them with writing instructions,
which can assist them in developing curricula for the teaching writing. High school teachers are
also provided with guidelines on how to develop and write recommendation letters for students
applying to higher learning institutions opportunities.
Writing consultants have not been left behind in that, they have been provided with
provisions for developing strategies for tutoring a vast range of writing. These include resources
for running conference and tutoring students on job search documents. An index of slide
presentations is also provided to provide them with more content to understand the context
adequately and be able to deliver it in teaching. Teachers have been provided with resources on
how to guide their students in avoiding plagiarism. This includes guidelines for teaching the
students how to differentiate between summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting as well as different
referencing styles. Resources included printable handout are also available free to help students
who may not be able to access the browser continuously.
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Parents have been provided with resources to regarding research work as from the
beginning of writing through the process of conducting the research up to proofreading stage.
However, the site should provide a section for stakeholders. This section should be able to
provide adequate information regarding various contributors of the information. The expertise of
the developers of the site and the contributors to the site should also be given to ensure the
quality of the stuff could be gauged well by clients. It is from the information provided by the
contributors that one will be able to prefer this site as a source of guidance to any other website.
Those who study English as a second language have been considered in the website. It
does not only care for the Purdue University students but also for students and instructors from
outside. Workplace and professional writers are also intended to access the information on the
OWL ("The Purdue OWL: Writing Instructors." n.p)
Is it Collective or for Single Skill
The site is a collective ability research engine, which requires the application of different
study skills. It requires the understanding of computer applications and its operations to be able
to go over the web contents and a combination of the various writing skills to be able to
comprehend the two simultaneously. The understanding of English language is another skill that
one must possess to find the website useful.
How do you think it would be useful for your teaching class?
This site will be much helpful in teaching class. This can be attributed to the fact that it
provides materials and guidelines to teachers regarding the content delivery tips especially on
matters of research. If the teachers and students go through the materials provided before the
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actual class, it can be found to be of great importance especially for both the teacher and the
students.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The website allows the users to make inquiries unclear concepts concerning writing to
both the learners and tutors. It provides an impressive feature like easy to find information. It has
a clear focus on the intended viewers and purpose with the quick navigation option. The section
on suggested resources offers a handful of links important to writers intended. Thus, it is very
inclusive and provides helpful writing resources without discrimination. One of the
disadvantages that may arise is the failure to update the information contained on a regular basis.
This may be for example concerning various writing styles thus, rendering the website
unreliable.
Connection to the web is always needed for one to access any information online, which
a time it is impossible if a computer fails to connect, or the connection is not available. Thus, the
site may be hard to utilize if faced with limitation to Internet access (Uhacz, n.p). As it can be
deciphered form, website format has both merits and demerits. The complexity is its advantage,
but it may also be its drawback. This implies that careful consideration should always be made
when making a decision on which to display information. Such considerations include things
such as the target audience and their related needs.
Conclusion
The analysis has outlined the various components within this website and their
effectiveness to address the customers' expectations. The site is well developed and organized
adequately to meet the interest of a wide range of the intended audience who range from the
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grades 7-12 instructors and student to adult basic education covering seven categories of
audience. Online writing labs are evolving to be in pace with the development of new
technologies and processes. Thus, the OWL should keep on testing to measure the usability of
the site and develop new ideas for the designing and content improvement as per the needs of the
clients. The concerns of the web users are paramount to consider at all the time to adequately
meet their needs accordingly.
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Works Cited
"A Review of Purdue's online writing Lab." Variations on Rhetorical Writing. n.p., 2008. Web.
24 Mar. 2016.
"The Purdue OWL: General Writing." Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
(OWL). n.p., 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
"The Purdue OWL: Writing Instructors." Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
(OWL). n.p., 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
"The Purdue OWL: Writing Instructors." Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab
(OWL). n.p., 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
Uhacz, A. "How to Do a Website Review." EHow. n.p., 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.
Weedmark, D. "How to Write a Website Review." EHow. n.p., 2016. Web. 24 Mar. 2016.