 
A Quick Definition of Application Types
Finding good web sites is only part of the battle. Once you find them, you must know how to use them. In order to help, we devised a method of categorizing sites by application type (format). Review our categories below, explore a few examples, and we believe that you will begin to understand the importance of this category.
| Tools help the user create something original or accomplish a task |
| Tool |
Traditional examples include calculators, typewriters, and desktop publishing software. Online examples include graphics generators, wizards, finding aids and search engines.
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| Resources, references, and hotlists provide information |
Resource
provides information culled from other sources; does NOT attempt to be comprehensive! |
Traditional examples include magazines, newspapers, books, and experts. Online examples include:
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| Reference
provides information created by that site;
attempts to be comprehensive;
is searchable |
Traditional examples include dictionaries, encyclopedias, and almanacs. Online examples include:
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Hotlist
provides links to information |
Traditional examples include bibliographies, resource lists. Online examples include webliographies. Many sites provide information and an additional list of resources in the form of a hotlist.
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| Lessons, activities, tutorials, and projects provide an active, online learning experience which can be used right in the classroom |
| Lesson
Goals and outcomes are focused |
Traditional lessons are lesson plans used by teachers. Online lessons are similar; however, we prefer when the resources to be used in the lesson are online too. When lesson plans are tied to specific state or national standards, we designate them as Educational Curriculum.
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| Activity
Goals and outcomes are broad;
duration is short-term (usually 1-3 days). |
Traditional examples of activities include labs, worksheets, writing assignments, or group collaborations. Online examples include:
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| Tutorial
Goals and outcomes are focused;
provides instruction in a step-by-step method |
Traditional examples are instructional modules or procedural job aides. Online examples include:
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| Project
Goals and outcomes are broad;
duration is long-term (usually several months). |
Traditional examples include science fair projects and long-term group simulations. Online examples include:
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First posted 1995.
Last modified
Thursday November 01, 2007
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