Categorizing Exemplary Educational Websites

The number of educational sites on the World Wide Web grows daily and teachers may have difficulty identifying sites that are well matched to their intended outcomes for learners. This study describes the development of an instrument to categorize educational Web sites. One hundred ninety-five "exemplary" or award-winning educational Web sites were examined and evaluated by the researchers. During the evaluation, 13 general site categories emerged, and the sites were sorted into these categories: instructional; content collection; archive/database/reference; compilation of individual online learning activities/games; collective of links; online exhibit; teacher resource; vicarious participation; research/curriculum project; communication community; places with public mission; academic or research organization; and commercial. This paper describes the categories of the instrument, the process by which the instrument was developed, and the result of this categorization. (Author/AEF)