• loads quickly
• free: completely open
  
  • - one-time easy free registration
    
  • - registration requires teacher or parent email involvement
    
  • - - requires personal information
    
  • - fee-based or subscription, but lots of stuff is free
    
  • - - - fee-based or subscription, limited amount free (password assumed)
    
  • - continued use requires password
• no advertising or as is appropriate for audience
  
  • - -overshadows content
    
  • - - -confuses navigation
    
• clear directions for using the site (if necessary) / Help
  
  • - needs directions or Help, but is missing
    
  • - directions / Help is inadequate
    
• pertinent use of technology features (graphics, sound, video, interactivity) for functionality and appeal
  

Bonus: alternative for disabled &/or older computer/monitor
Bonus: equired plug-ins or applications clearly identified
Bonus: exceptional example of a user friendly element

Design
Total adjusted from 10.

• overall impression as attractive, interesting, appealing
  
• easy to navigate: natural flow between pages
  
  • few links required to get around
    
  • helpful navigation bars / index / site map
    
  • additional windows opened are obvious, inobtrusive, easily closed
    
• easy to read design elements
  
  • font and size
    
  • color
    
  • use of white space (uncluttered)
    
  • placement of text
    
• tables & charts are appropriate for audience
  
• quality photos or illustrations
  
• quality of sound
  
• arrangement of navigational links is “artful”, pleasing, uncluttered
  
• site is complete, not under construction or dead navigation links / labels
  

Bonus: consistent format throughout site
Bonus: page titles represent content
Bonus: exceptional example of a design element

Content
Total adjusted from 10.

• current: frequent update or as is appropriate to the material
  
• appropriate match of level to intended audience
  
  • image vs text
    
  • reading level (skills required)
    
  • style (includes inverted pyramid)
    
  • conceptual level (includes vocabulary)
    
• accurate / reliable / authoritative / authentic
  
• amount of content is “robust”
  
• bias-free or perspective explained
  
• links to external sites are valid
  
  • working
    
  • correspond in content or purpose
    
  • correspond in level
    
  • are evaluated
    
• free of spelling & grammatical errors
  

Bonus: especially useful content for audience ie something would want
Bonus: both original content and links
Bonus: clear & obvious indicators for new content
Bonus: provides instructional aides; show skills, lists objectives, standards alignment, assessment suggestions
Bonus: exceptional example of a content element

Organization
Total adjusted from 5.

• well organized
  
  • logical categories
    
  • clearly labeled content
    
• non-text items enhance or integral to, not detract from content
  
• user interactivity enhance or integral to, not detract from content
  
  • ie purposeful
    
  • well explained
    
• links lists are well organized conceptually

Bonus: searchable within site
Bonus: exceptional example of an organization element

Documentation
Total adjusted from 5.

• purpose for site is implied or evident: content, audience, grade level, limits
  
  • + purpose is documented
    
• author info given not just webmaster
  
  • + author info “good” ie credentials or reputation of an organization
    
  • + provision for feedback or contacting author
    
• copyright/date created
  
  • + permissions are conveniently given
    
• revision information

Bonus: credited original sources for factual information &/or images
Bonus: sponsors identified
Bonus: exceptional example of a documentation element