As I evaluated the website ISL(Internet Second Language) Collective, I was impressed that it was excellent in the majority of categories in the evaluation rubric. It is clear that much thought and effort has been placed into creating a website which would be of benefit to all.
The owners cited their goal and purpose clearly on the home page of the website. The language of the website changes as one chooses the language and this goal and purpose is stated clearly in all six of the languages. The owners stated clearly that the site is run by a community of Foreign Language teachers who wish to assist other teachers with resources and make lesson planning easier.
When one assesses the design of the website, one must also give kudos to the web page designer and to the owners. The website is very welcoming; from the onset users are greeted with a live comical avatar and this occurs on the home pages of the six languages of the website. The colours of the web pages are also very welcoming, they are bright in colour for example light blue and light green. The pages are also very well organised, they are no errors, they load easily and are very clear and easy to read. The material also downloads very easily, whether it be in Microsoft Word, Power Point or PDF. The videos also load very quickly.
The site is laid out in a very logical manner, and it is clear where one can find the material, resources or videos which one seeks. There is a site map which is also indicates where material can be found as it allows the user to choose a vocabulary theme or grammar topic where relevant resources are located. Should one prefer not to use this method to search, there is a search engine located at the top of the page or the can select the filter button which allows one to choose which skill (oral, aural, reading or writing) one is seeking to enhance via the site's resources.
All relevant information on the various resources is provided to both teachers, students and general users of the site in a very clear and succinct manner. All authors of materials are identified and should one need to contact the owner/management of the site, one can so do via an email address, a telephone number or a regular address.
The content of the website is excellent. There are many resources and materials suited to persons teaching or studying the six foreign languages at any level. What is admirable is the fact that the material indicates which level it is suited to, saving the user the time that would normally be spent deciphering this information. Of further admiration is the fact that the materials cater to the four skills of aural, oral, reading and writing which are essential to foreign language learning.
Dates are clearly shown on the website. The management has indicated the date of the founding of the site and also display the date on which the material was created and uploaded. Should there be any update of the resource, this date is also indicated.
The provision of links to other sites is an area in which I believe the website can improve. The website provides links to some other websites which also provide resources relevant for foreign language education. However, not all websites which are linked are as well organised and mapped out as islcollective.com and there is not a large variety of websites linked.
However, what was most disappointing to me was the lack of resources for handicapped persons. None of the material is accessible to persons who suffer from vision loss as there is no software for them to access the resources. Undoubtedly, there is auditory material but this cannot be accessed of one who does not have enough vision to do so. Understandably, the site functions from donations from its users , however, the investment into software for the differently abled would be a great enhancement to this website.
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