MakeZine.com is the digital version of the magazine, Make, which provides students with a variety of interesting DIY projects that have a strong focus in science and technology. The site is very busy and filled with advertisements, so students may find the navigation cumbersome. However, students should be able to find projects by area of interest and level of difficulty. Projects range in sophistication from building an octagonal plastic fairy house to a bicycle that generates electricity. Each project has written instructions clearly numbered, most steps have accompanying pictures, and there is always the option to print the instructions. The instructions are generally understandable, but they assume a base level of knowledge with no links for challenging vocabulary or terms. While students may need to purchase materials, the overall aim of the projects is to use household items whenever possible. Older teens may be comfortable doing projects on their own, but most children will want and need adult supervision. MakeZine can serve as a jumping point for learning about a topic such as electricity, but parents and children will need to search elsewhere for more specific educational information on the topic. Overall, this is a fine site for interested students to find good projects, but it is not the best choice for students who do not enjoy working independently or have any trouble following directions.

• Provides sufficient and varied types of practice problems to maximize understanding and generalization of the targeted skill/concept
• Manufacturer claims alignment with Common Core/Known Standards
• Presents educational concepts accurately
• Explains answers so students can learn from mistakes
• Better for teaching the skill to new or struggling learners
• Better for practicing or refreshing the skill
• Skills are practiced through authentic, meaningful problems (not just rote practice)

• Appropriate for a broad age range to use and enjoy
• Subject matter and problems are relevant, interesting and authentic to students
• Visually appealing to children in the target age range
• Provides virtual rewards or incentives after meeting specified goals or objectives
• Provides a "break activity" between academic problem sets
• Offers ongoing, progressive challenge
• Overall - Enjoyable. Given the option, students would choose this option

• Has a free or trial version
• Provides teaching guidance for adults to support the child and set appropriate goals
• Provides an age-appropriate tutorial/first time users can work independently
• Student should be able to use independently after first use
• Has a multi-player option to foster in-person collaboration or cooperation
• Multiple users can save a profile
• Student graduates to the next level or topic only after meeting a benchmark
• Can play without sound and not distract others
• Students can save work between sessions
• Can effectively understand and monitor student's progress (email report or in product)
• Requires registration before using the first time
• Provides options to play in languages other than English/Good for ELL
• Presents information in multiple formats (voice over, pictures and text, etc.)
• Overall - Easy to use

• Abstract Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Students might need support with navigation
• General Information
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
• Organization
• Age inappropriate amount of work which could overwhelm or discourage students
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Requires remembering and completing a sequence of visual steps
• Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
• Students might need support with navigation
• Reading Fluency
• Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
• Self-regulation
• Shows advertisements
• Promotes purchases or upgrades to students
• Verbal Reasoning
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options
• Includes long written questions or text that students must be able to read on their own
• Vocabulary
• Directions may be confusing for students using independently
• Assumes specific knowledge or vocabulary without "look-up" options