greatness-meter from ALA and me

The American Library Association-Great Websites for Kids page lists its criteria for greatness in websites. In summary: the author/sponsor of a site should be obvious and the the site should have a purpose, be appropriate for its audience, easy to navigate, and have meaningful and useful content that educates, informs, or entertains.

I think that the ALA has a great start but the criteria is general and doesn't specify what makes a site great for kids.

I find it difficult to categorize a site as great or not great so I have prepared my own criteria for what makes a site good and what else a site should have to make it great in the category of online educational games and activities.

Good:

• language, design, navigational tools, and content are appropriate to targeted age group
• headings are appropriate and understandable (i.e., games are marked "games")
• links are live and take the visitor to a desirable site

Great:

• content is aligned with curriculum
• target age group or grade is clearly stated
• original content is presented
• games, quizzes, and activities are innovative (not just wordsearches and hangman)
• a parents' guide is available
• a privacy policy is posted
• complies with Children's Online Privacy Protection Act guidelines
• kids really enjoy visiting the site
• facts and concepts are presented and/or reinforced