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Peer Review

German Language Web Exercises

Reviewed:
Mar 15, 2006 by World Languages
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 3.0 stars
Content Quality: 3.0 stars
Effectiveness: 3.0 stars
Ease of Use: 3.0 stars
Overview:
This site, part of the author's "Deutsch im Netz/Webgerman" site, offers Web Exercises, Vocabulary Builders, Mazes, Games, and other resources for Interactive Online Learning. The respective sub-pages use flash/shockwave animation, javascript (mouseover) based displays and exercises. Some include audio/sound. "Textbook Support" items simply link to outside pages (i.e. pages not created by this author).
Type of Material:
Cloze, multiple-choice questions (via radio buttons or drop-down menus), etc. Many exercises have been created using tools such as Hot Potatoes, Quia, Flash, etc.
Recommended Uses:
The material offered has manifold uses that range from basic vocabulary study to review of grammar concepts.
Technical Requirements:
Flash, Shockwave plugins/players, javascript enabled browser. Certain files available for download require an UN/ZIP archive program.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Depending on the chosen category, users can learn basic vocabulary, drill points of grammar, or practice basic to intermediate reading skills while reading about German-language culture (the last primarily via external links).
Target Student Population:
From beginners (vocabulary builders) to intermediate and above (quizzes and exercises based on external links).
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic to intermediate knowledge of German vocabulary and grammar (dependent on exercises); basic computer literacy.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:
Some outside materials linked (in Dialoge under Structure Practice, for example, to BBC materials.
Concerns:
Some exercises are ambiguous, e.g. "als, wenn, wann, ob": (Apart from spelling errors/bescheid to be upper case). "Ich kann nicht sage, ___ ich kommen kann." Both "ob" and "wann" could be correct. Also, the instructions are incomplete (one needs to draw the line and then click to connect them and get feedback).
One question in the exercises on genitive case (and the title misspells it as "genetive") actually contains only the dative case!
Dead links under "Coursework"; also under "Structure Practice" (e.g., "Genetiv Pronomen" [sic]).

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:
Many of the exercises are individually good to very good, though few of them are without some errors of spelling or grammar that undercut their effectiveness (see below).
Concerns:
The materials lack tight integration.
There are too many distracting errors/weaknesses (spelling, typos, phrasing, etc.) and much seems done because it can be done and not because it is necessary or useful (mouseover for instructions, e.g. here http://webgerman.com/german/Dialoge/dialog1.htm);
and this orgy of colors and fonts... Instructors who use this page will have to "undo" some of the errors that students might inadvertently learn from some of these exercises.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:
Getting around the site and finding materials is very simple. The main page features nine major categories (e.g. Vocabulary Builders, Landeskunde, Coursework) which list subcategories in a table-of-contents fashion using bulleted lists. The overall design is presented in three columns, which results in some clutter.
Assuming basic familiarity with certain plugins, the exercises can be completed quite easily. Teachers will not need to give instructions to their students.
Concerns:
It is not immediately clear why some pages are opened in new browsers/pop up windows (e.g. http://webgerman.com/german/wortschatz/gefuehle2/Kap3.htm).
Other Issues and Comments:
"Refridgerator" (spelling error/typo in die Kueche 1); this is only one of many errors, however.
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