FunBrain

http://www.funbrain.com/

            Funbrain.com is a website designed for students to come and work on many different skills after school. This website provides sufficient background information as well as when the website originated. It identifies what activities are available to kids, parents, and teachers. Also includes: terms of use, privacy policy, and homework help site.

            Although this site is colorful and inviting, it is a bit confusing to navigate. There are no clear directions how to get to the home page from any other given page. Yet it is easy to navigate through other pages like from the math page to the reading page and so on.

            This website used outstanding graphics to assure an inviting place for kids to come and learn yet also have fun. Also provides a warm environment quite like a classroom does, but yet give you a playful twist to assure you can learn at home and still have fun.

            Again colorful and inviting but the text does not let you know where to go. I feel as though they could have specified a bit on how to get to the homepage rather than just clicking random links to find out on your own.

            On each page you visit, there are lists of subjects kids can work with as well as other activities kids can do to have fun while learning. It also lists the grade levels of students who can use this site.  Activities separated by grade level.

            While on the home page for this site parents can find what they call the “parents page”. This link reassures parents that the website is a safe place for their kids to have fun while learning. Give parents the opportunity to see the games and activities their kids are engaging in online. Also provides a link to the privacy policy.

            Also on the home page, teachers have their own place called “teachers home”. This link provides multiple activities teachers can use in class with students. This website provides the opportunity to look up activities by grade level and subject.

Criteria	Ratings			Points available	Score achieved
About website	Provides background information and when the website originated. Identifies what activities are available to kids, parents, and teachers. Also includes terms of use and privacy policy. 8 points	Provides  website origination date.  Lists activities available for kids. 5 points	Provides  website origination date and lists activities. 2 points	8 points	8
Navigation Difficulty	Site is easy to navigate; there are no complications or confusing factors when trying to navigate the site. Buttons to go from one page to the next are spotted easily. 6 points	Site is a bit confusing to navigate. There are no clear directions how to get to the home page from any other given page. Yet it is easy to navigate through other pages. 3 points	Site is confusing to navigate and you cannot determine how to get to any other pages. 0 points	6 points	3
Site Graphics	Outstanding graphics used to assure an inviting place for kids to come and learn yet also have fun. 6 points	Graphics needed a bit more work, not much relating to the idea of the website. However, graphics are colorful. 3 points		6 points	6
Text	The text is bold and colorful, just the right amount for it to grab your attention. The text lets you know what you can do and where to go. 4 points	Text is colorful, but does not let you know where to go. 2 points	Text is scarce and boring. 0 points	4 points	2
Subjects & Grade levels	Lists subjects kids can work with as well as other activities kids can do to have fun while learning. Lists the grade levels of students who can use this site. 5 points	Lists what kids can do to have fun, but does not specify if the can learn something new from each activity. 2 points	Lists only games that do not include learning techniques. Does not specify what grade levels can use this site. 0 points	5 points	5
Parents	This website reassures parents that the website is a safe place for their kids to have fun while learning. Give parents the opportunity to see the games and activities their kids are engaging in online. 6 points	The website reassures parents that their kids are safe using this online website. 3 points	No reassurance for parents as to whether or not kids are safe on while using this website.  Nor any idea as to what kids are learning while playing games. 0 points	6 points	6
Teachers	Provides multiple activities teachers can use in class with students. This website provides the opportunity to look up activities by grade level and subject. 5 points	Provides activities teacher can use in class. Specifies what grade levels each activity is designated for, but not by subject. 3 points	Provides a list of activities that teachers can use in class; but does not specify grade level or subject. 1 point	5 points	5
Total Points achieved out of   40					35