Running head: BENS GUIDE REVIEW/ EVALUATION/ CRITIQUE1

Bens Guide Evaluation

Colton R. Morgan
Edison State College

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Bens Guide Review
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Bens Guide is a very useful website for understanding the U.S. government. It details the
founding of the government, its structure, election processes, law making process, and U.S.
citizenship. The website also provides direct links to primary sources, such as the Declaration of
Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. It has different age group set
up within the website ranging from K-2 to 9-12. This website would be an outstanding
resource for a government and civics class, or any history classes studying the founding of our
nation. The website could cover multiple Florida Sunshine State Standards for social studies. For
instance, Standard #3: demonstrate an understanding of the principles, functions, and
organization of government. The website would also be helpful with standard #4, which is
demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues in world affairs, and evaluate the role and
impact of United States foreign policy. Bens Guide would also cover National Education
Technology Standard #3: Model Digital Age Work and Learning.

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Bens Guide Evaluation
Teacher Name: Colton Morgan
Student Name:
CATEGORY
Content

Navigation

Graphics

________________________________________

4
The site has a
well-stated clear
purpose and
theme that is
carried out
throughout the
site. The site
provides
multiple sources
to back up their
information.
The site
contains no
bias.

3
The site has a
clearly stated
purpose and
theme, but may
have one or two
elements that do
not seem to be
related to it.
Most
information on
the site is
backed up with
reliable sources.
The site may
contain slight
bias.
Links for
Links for
navigation are
navigation are
clearly labeled, clearly labeled,
consistently
allow the reader
placed, allow
to easily move
the reader to
from a page to
easily move
related pages
from a page to
(forward and
related pages
back), and
(forward and
internal links
back), and take
take the reader
the reader where where s/he
s/he expects to
expects to go. A
go. A user does user rarely
not become lost. becomes lost.
Graphics are
Graphics are
related to the
related to the
theme/purpose
theme/purpose
of the site, are
of the site, are
thoughtfully
of good quality
cropped, are of
and enhance
high quality and reader interest

2
The purpose and
theme of the site
is somewhat
muddy or
vague. Rarely
are any sources
used to back up
information.
Some
information is
not accurate.
The site
contains bias
which has led to
inaccurate
information.
Links for
navigation take
the reader where
s/he expects to
go, but some
needed links
seem to be
missing. A user
sometimes gets
lost.

1
The site lacks a
purpose and
theme. Most
information
within the site
is not accurate.
No sources
were given to
back up any
information
posted on the
site. Bias
causes the site
to have no
educational
value.
Some links do
not take the
reader to the
sites described.
A user
typically feels
lost.

Graphics are
related to the
theme/purpose
of the site, and
are of good
quality.
Graphics are

Graphics seem
randomly
chosen, are of
low quality,
OR distract the
reader. The
graphics are

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Availability

enhance reader
interest or
understanding.
Graphics are
suitable for the
age group the
site is directed
towards.
The site is free
for anyone who
can access the
internet. The
site is almost
never down. If
the site will be
down a notice is
given prior.

or
understanding.
Graphics are
suitable for the
age group the
site is directed
towards.

unfitting
towards the age
group the site is
directed
towards.

awkward for
the age group
the site is
directed
towards.

The site is free

for anyone who
can access the
internet. The
site is almost
never down, but
when it is a
notice may not
be given prior.

The site is free

for students by
logging on to a
school account.
The site is not
usually down,
but is down
enough to be an
inconvenience.

The site cost

money to gain
access to. The
site is down
very often and
stays down for
long periods of
time.

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Bens Guide Critique
Bens Guide has an absorbent amount of information pertaining to government and civics.
This is a great resource for teachers that teach these subjects. While it is a great resource, there
are good and bad aspects of the site. Technology integration into classroom is the goal here, but
Im not sold on this site as way to achieve that goal. Bens Guide is one of many similar sites that
many students today do not utilize, but with more encouragement by teachers I think educational
websites will become much more efficient and useful.
This site is a great place to go learn information on the founding of government and what
government means today. Bens Guide is very organized and has loads of outside sources to back
up the information they give. The site is very credible, its ran by the government. This also
means, the site will almost always be working. Because the site is organized into age groups,
teachers from all levels can use Bens Guide to help students. Lastly, this site is very interactive
with the viewer. Many games are available to play and lots of visual aids are placed throughout
the site. Bens Guide has numerous advantages to being used, but all I can recognize are
individual uses.
Bens Guide major disadvantage is that it is built as a study tool not as a mode of
instruction. All the advantages from above only make it easier on the individual. It would be very
cumbersome to work as a class using this site. The site may function well for small groups of
two to three students, but thats reaching. Bens Guide also is not detail oriented enough for a
high school course. I believe the site was built as a quick overview of all aspects of government,
thus many important details that should be included for high school students are not there. The
last issues with Bens Guide is that the site looks childish. I understand they designers were

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meeting in the middle between Kindergarten and 12th grade, but I wish each section of the site
would be designed differently for the age difference.
As mentioned previously, integrating technology into the classroom is the main goal in
schools today. While I do think using educational websites is a strong step towards it, I think
many fall short of the line. Bens Guide is no exception to that. While the website is very useful, I
find it to be a website built to be used by an individual. It would be awkward to use Bens Guide
in class as a teaching guide. I would not support use of this site in large group instruction. My
view is completely polarized when thinking of this resource for individual use. I think this site
would be wonderful as a study tool. I also think it could be useful for small group work. I would
encourage students to use the site if they were having trouble understanding the material covered
in class. I may also provide extra credit opportunities for students who summarize/ take notes
from the website. I believe this website is a great study tool, but should be left out of teaching
instruction.
I think as technology enhances and website become more elaborate, we will see
educational websites as a major medium for teaching instruction. Websites need to be more
accessible, sharable, and maneuverable. These are the main hindrances when trying to teach from
a website. How can teachers teach a lesson to a classroom of twenty five students when only five
students can access the site? If we can solve the issue with share-ability first, I believe it will
open up many more doorways for integrating technology into the classroom. Educational
websites and applications will be taking a more prominent role in teaching in the next decade, so
it is important for future educators to be able to tell the difference between a good educational
resource and a flawed one.

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References
iCPALMS - Standards. (n.d.). Welcome to CPALMS. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from
http://www.cpalms.org/Standards/FLStandardSearch.aspx
Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids. (2010, May 4). Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for
Kids. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
Digital Age Teaching. (n.d.). ISTE. Retrieved September 25, 2013, from
www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teacher