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Website
of Sharon Kirby |
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Website Review of
Spaleon |
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Computers in the
Classroom Judy Arzt, Ph.D., Saint Joseph College, CT
Website
Evaluation Form
Website Title: Spanish – Learn it Online (Spaleon) Producer of the website: Peter Klein Internet Address and Phone number: www.spaleon.com infor@spaleon.com Grade levels: 6-12 Subject Areas: Spanish Language Reviewed by: Sharon Kirby, Spanish Teacher
Spanish-Learn it Online (Spaleon) was constructed for the public to practice the conjugation of verbs. The user can have a choice of which tense of conjugation to practice. The user can chose from present, preterite, imperfect, future, present subjunctive, imperfect subjunctive, and conditional. The website allows the user to become a member of the site in order to create a history record of the accuracy in conjugating the different verbs. If a user decides that they would not like to join, they will still be notified of errors, but it will not keep a history record. In the different conjugations, the user can have the option of either choosing the basic, regular, and irregular verbs. A random verb conjugation option is also available for users. Also, users can choose the specific verb to practice for conjugation. When a user is conjugating a verb some options are: a new verb, the solution, the percentage, and the complete conjugation of the verb. The website clears the area of conjugation once something has been typed in order for the user to continue to try to complete the conjugation. The definition for each verb is placed next to the verb in the infinitive form. Spaleon also has a section for users to conjugate a verb in all its forms. The website also provides a hyperlink to other websites to learn Spanish. Spaleon also has a link to a bookstore in order to buy Spanish learning textbooks.
The content in Spaleon is accurate. The website provides
correct conjugation to the variety of verbs a user can chose from. The
conjugation skills are appropriate for students who are learning how to conjugated different forms in the
Spanish language. The student could use this particular website to review a
conjugation form, as well as work on spelling and word definition. The
directions are very clear and in English. The layout of the website is simple
to use and direct. A bias I noted
was that many of the sample sentences are in the él (he) form, which does not reflect a variety of forms.
The website is easy to navigate. All the different parts of the site are clearly labeled and easy to understand. For the most part; all the hyperlinks work, however, the section where users can ask for a particular verb to be conjugated in all its forms is not functioning. The hyperlink to the website verbix.com is working, which allows the user to still complete the task of conjugating a particular verb in all its tenses but not through Spaleon.com. The website is simple in its design. The colors are light but the website lacks visual appeal. There are almost no graphics and the only pictures are videos available through lomástv.com. I like the non-decorated aspect of the website because it does not distract the user from the goal of learning how to conjugate different verbs in various tenses. I also find that the options provided, such as the conjugations, verbs, tense, and solutions, are excellent.
Spaleon uses technology to promote learning. The website does not provide a variety of multimedia materials; however, it does provide hyperlinks to other sites where students can access multimedia materials to further their Spanish language learning. The students are able to produce language, even if in its basic format by conjugating verbs correctly in Spanish. Students tend to struggle with conjugating verbs in the correct tense and form in written assignments in Spanish. The website does not provide clues as to how to conjugate the verb in order to challenge students. By providing no clues, the student has to work harder at figuring out the answer, which is helpful for students who are still learning the conjugation forms. Once the student practices the conjugation of one particular verb, s/he will be more comfortable using Spanish. The student can sign up to have a report on what verbs and tenses the user is having difficulty with. This report tool is a helpful feature to promote learning because it gives students an idea on their own area of weakness and what to practice further.
The website allows for students
to have options in all the sections and
provide some flexibility to choose what they would like to work. Students can start from the basic conjugation
and continue to the more difficult irregular conjugations. The students will
need to have prior knowledge of how to conjugate the verbs, either from
further research online or through classroom notes. The website could be used
with a partner in order to have help in the more difficult conjugations, such
as the preterite form. The website is a great tool but I would not use it as
an assessment piece because students can choose to obtain the correct
conjugation of the verbs. The website promotes individual thinking skills
because the student needs to make connections between the different
conjugations of verbs; however, it would not be higher order thinking.
The teacher would not be
essential in order for student to understand the activities in the website. The teacher would perhaps want to
make a rule that students are not to try and get the solution to verb
conjugation until after trying to conjugate the verb at least three times.
The teacher would want to monitor by
circulating the computer laboratory in order to assess how well students are doing in conjugating a
certain tense. The teacher would have a better understanding of where his/her
students are in grasping the conjugation for future assessments. The teacher
might have students sign-up with the website and print their progress as
evidence of how students have progressed. Also, the teacher could have an
assessment piece at the end of the class period with all the different verbs
and tense for students to complete as an exit card closure strategy.
The website could be used in the
classroom after students have been taught a particular conjugation. The
website would be a great tool as a review for assessments on a particular
conjugation. The students could take all period to complete the variety of
options within each tense. The students could work in pairs or individually, but it would not be beneficial to
have more than two students per workstation. Individualized workstations would
allow students to practice the verbs and conjugations that are most difficult
to them, rather than someone else weakness. The website could be used as a
whole class activity. The teacher could project the website on a screen,
students could on paper write the answers to the different conjugations, and
check their work as a class.
Spaleon is a useful website for students to use. The website provides the verbs that are most commonly used in Spanish and the definitions are available. It is easy to use and the parts are clearly labeled. The website would allow student to become more proficient in conjugating verbs in Spanish. New conjugation can be learned, as well as, a review of all the tenses the students have learned throughout the year are available. A negative aspect of the website is that not all hyperlinks are functioning. Also, it would be interesting if there were an option to add other verbs in order to practice their conjugation.
Overall, the site provides useful practice in conjugating verbs in Spanish, a critical component to learning the Spanish language. The website is focused on only conjugation, but it does provide hyperlinks to other websites that have other Spanish learning components, such as listening and reading. Users can utilize the site to practice and further their comfort level in conjugating Spanish verbs in a fun and personalized atmosphere. Prior knowledge is required in order to complete the conjugations, but the site does provide the answers if the user is stuck on a particular conjugation.
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©
S. Kirby | Last reviewed April 23, 2008 |
e-mail: skirby@sjc.edu |
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