Peer Review

Education Trust: Education Watch Online

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Jun 5, 2006 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: Education Trust: Education Watch Online is one of a number of sites provided by
Education Trust to provide user friendly access to data charts and PDF documents
detailing data on educational performance and equity for kindergarten through
college. Data is derived from multiple sources including SAT/ACT scores; as well
as from NAEP, state education agencies, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department
of Commerce, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the National Center
for Education Statistics, and the Postsecondary Education Opportunity Website.
Data is provided in the categories of performance (NAEP, ACT/SAT); opportunity
(teachers, curricula, resources, and investment), student profiles, and state
summaries. The latest NAEP data provided is from 2003, for ACT/SAT from 2002,and
for state profiles from 2004.
Ed Watch Interactive is a user-friendly source of data on educational
performance and equity by race and class, kindergarten through college. Through
this site, users can select, access and compare the state and national data that
form the core of Ed Watch reporting.
Type of Material:: Reference material
Recommended Uses:: Select, access, and compare state and national data on education from
kindergarten through college
Technical Requirements:: Internet Explorer 4.0 is the recommended browser. PDF documents require Acrobat
4.0 (a link to Acrobat 4.0 is provided on the site).
Identify Major Learning Goals:: Provide a resource for students, faculty, and researchers to examine educational
performance and equity within or across states. The data can be from
individual schools as well as states.
Target Student Population:: Students and faculty in undergraduate and graduate programs in teacher
education, educational policy are the primary audience. Content is also useful
to students in other education programs as well as in sociology, political
science, and related disciplines.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: An understanding of the focus of NAEP and the varying involvement of states in
the collection of other education data is necessary for the effective use of
this site.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The availability of a wide variety of data from numerous sources is the major
strength of this site.
Concerns:: The lack of currency of this data is a major concern. The FAQ for the site
indicates that updating will occur 'as new data becomes available'. However, the
NAEP data on this site is from 2003 while the NAEP site includes 2005 data.
More explanation regarding plans for updating the content as well as embedded
links to the source of information within the report pages would increase the
quality of content.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Doctoral and master's students could use this material to prepare and conduct
research.
Concerns:: As a reference tool, this site's effectiveness as a teaching tool is highly
dependent on the ability of the instructor. There are no specific teaching and
learning activities included on this site. The timeliness of the material might
be a factor in its usefulness.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The availability of drop down menus within each category of data and the
extensive FAQ support navigation of this site. Clear step-by-step directions
for use are provided.
Concerns:: Overall, this reviewer did not find site navigation to be intuitive. There is no
link on pages to return to Education Watch Online, rather the user returns to
the home page of Education Trust. The small size of the screen captures provided
in the tutorial negate much of their use.

Other Issues and Comments:: The site has a wealth of information. It is important to recognize that test
scores are a snapshot, rather than a photo album of school achievement. That
being said, the site highlights the gender and racial gaps in school achievement
and urges users to use the data to develop more effective schools.
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