This document provides a framework for evaluating digital educational resources. It outlines six dimensions to consider: (1) context of implementation, (2) technical, (3) pedagogical, (4) interactivity, (5) design, and (6) ideological. Key criteria include the learning theory behind the resource, role of the teacher, evaluation methods, and accessibility. A seven-step process is proposed: (1) design course, (2) survey options, (3) evaluate, (4) choose, (5) implementation plan, (6) train staff, (7) implement and evaluate. Examples of digital resources like FOG Interactive and MyELT are provided. The conclusion stresses the importance of

1. Assessing and Selecting
Digital Educational Resources
Lic. Mariana Porta

2. Objectives:
●Provide a set of criteria to evaluate digital
resources.
●Walk one more step into teacher-empowerment
to face the digital world.

3. Digital Resources
 Applications: tools to be used with the content
we decide
 Contents we select from the web to integrate
to our class
 Software that has been developed for the
specific purpose of teaching

4. 2. Choices
available?
4. Making
a choice
5. Implmentation
stage
3. Evaluating
possible digital
resources
1. What is the
model? Course
design
A process

5. Dimensions
1.Context of
implementation
2.Technical dimension
3.Pedagogical
dimension:
 Specific pedagogical
needs
 Theory of learning
and teaching behind
 Teacher's role
 Evaluation and
scoring systems
 4. Interactivity
 5. Ideological
dimension
 6. Design

6. Context of implementation
 What is the model implemented?
 Why a digital resource, why a specific teaching
software?
 How will the teacher work?
 Who is the course directed to?

7. A process that involves different
know hows
 You need an
ACADEMIC decision
here
 You need a technical
decision here
 You need a budget
here

8. Technical dimension
 What kind of licence
does it have?
 How is it distributed
and supported?
 What kind of
equipment does it
require?
 Is the programming
good?
 How much is it?
 Institutions are
generally the ones
that have to evaluate
this.
– Availability
– Money
– Logistics

9. Pedagogical dimension (1)
 What is the theory of learning and teaching
behind this software?
 What are our pedagogical needs before
selecting the resource?

10. Pedagogical dimension (2)
The theory of learning behind
 The role of the teacher
 Teacher- student interaction
 Student-student interaction
 Degree of autonomy of the student
 Evaluation and rubrics
 Pedagogical support to the teacher, guides,
suggestions, etc.

11. Pedagogical dimension (3)
 The theory of language behind
 Text structure
 Hipertexts and multimedia

12. Interactivity (1)
 a) user-content
 Interface and navigation
 How is information accessed?
 What are the menu options?
 What are the possible paths through the material?
 What is the digree of freedom allowed to the user?
 Can it be customized by the user?

13. Interactivity (2)
b) student-student
 Is there room for student-student interaction?
 Is there room for collaborative work?

14. Interactivity (3)
student-teacher
 How do student and teacher get in touch?
 Is there a system to keep track of feedback?
 Assessment and evaluation? Gradebook, reports, etc.

15. ●Design
 Does it look good?
 Screens: are they easy to read? Consider font,
size, colors, graphics.
 Sound quality: Is it good, natural?
 Does it adapt to students?
 Can it be customized?
 How is the visual component integrated?

16. To reflect ...

17. Ideological dimension
 The hidden curriculum
 Cultural stereotypes about work, family,
authority, gender, etc.
 How the world is represented

18. What are the milestones at each of
these stages?
1.Design a course
2.Survey the market
3.Go through evaluation process
4.Make a choice and elaborate a report on the
software you have chosen. Point out drawbacks
and highlights.
5.Develop a plan for implementation
6.Train your staff in the use of this software
7.Implement.
8.Evaluate results

19. We'll focus on software developed
for teaching purposes
 FOG interactive
 http://www.focusongrammarin
teractive.com/
 My Elt
https://myelt.heinle.com/ilrn/a
uthentication/signIn.do?
inst=MYELT
 DynED
 Demo 1
http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=2A751355B2898DAC
 Demo 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Umj1kan8M

 1. Context of
implementation
 2. Technical
dimension
 3. Pedagogical
dimension
 4. Interactivity
 5. Design
 6. Ideological
dimension


20. Conclusions
In my humble opinion ...
 Beware of the market!
 We need to make informed decisions about
software for teaching.
 We have to know what we need.
 We should learn, so some day we can develop
our own digital resources.