Spinning plates ratings
Ratings page
Our "spinning plates" rating system evaluates web sites based on the following criteria: Where we got our rating system
Obviously, the 'spinning plates' system of measurement is an original one. The way in which we actually measured the websites and based our ratings, though, was not due entirely to imagination.
Content
In judging the content of the websites, we first had to consider the sites' audience: visitors who speak little to no English and who are looking to learn. The advice of considering one's audience is basic: it's something we found on nearly all of the online style guides, including the SpiderPro Styleguide: 100 Do's and Don'ts of Web Design and the Yale/CAIMstyle guide. Since the audience of these sites is comprised primarily of non-English speakers who are trying to learn the language, we decided that the content needed to be simple enough to comprehend easily and must be dedicated to teaching visitors the language, since that is what they claim to do. In order to learn a language thoroughly, the language must be covered in its entirety. Our group worked together to decide what it meant to learn a language in its entirety. We decided that to be fluent in a language, one must be able to listen to and understand it, read the language in text, and convey thoughts in the language through both speaking and writing. These (or comprable) factors are what we based our judgements of the sites' content on.
Navigation
To evaluate the navigability of the websites we evaluated, we consulted the online style guides again. Some of the tips we kept in mind were to: use small pages, link additional pages back to the index page, include a table of contents, and keep menu items related. In addition to these tips, we also considered the general fluidity of the sites and kept in mind that people unfamiliar with the English language need to easily navigate them when evaluating the ESL sites based on navigability.
One spinning plate
This rating indicates that the site does not provide useful information in the areas of reading, speaking, listening, writing or navigability of the site. A web site receiving a rating of one spinning plate has poor navigability and may be difficult to find. Simply put, a website with a rating of one spinning plate does not have very useful information and is difficult to navigate.
Two spinning plates
This rating indicates that the site provides minimally useful information in the areas of reading, speaking, listening, writing. Content is either sparse or is concentrated only in one of the four areas. Navigability is also poor, but may be slightly improved. A website recieving a rating of two spinning plates is still not especially useful to the non-native speaker.
Three spinning plates
This rating indicates a site that provides mediocre information and learning tools in our areas of content evaluation. Navigability is improved, but is still not fluid and entirely 'user-friendly.' This rating is the minimum rating for what we would consider a "worth your time" site to check out in order to learn English online.
Four spinning plates
This rating means that the site does a very good job in most of the content areas: reading, speaking, listening, writing. It may be lacking in one of the areas, but must be strong in the rest. Sites with ratings of four spinning plates have excellent navigability. These sites are very useful in teaching English to the non-native speaker.
Five spinning plates
This rating means that this site is a self-sufficient tool for teaching English to non-native speakers in the areas of reading, speaking, listening, writing and navigability. This site would be all a visitor would need to learn the language and be able to communicate it effectively.
Go back to our home page to find a list of links to our evaluations of the ESL sites as well as to the sites themselves.
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