\
Can be daunting with its volumes of
resources
Takes skill & perseverance.
Should be done with prudence when
› selecting sites for your students to
use
› doing online research
Magnitude of resources
Any person can create a webpage
Search portals do not scrutinize sites
Information
Opinion
Point of View or Perspective
Commercial or business
Personal
Authorship
Publishing body
Point of view or bias
Verifiability
Currency
Author is well-known and well- regarded
Positive referral from another trusted
source
Biographical information is given
Other contact information is supplied
Name or link to governing organization
Organization is:
› Recognizable
› Suitable to topic at hand
Identified relationship between author
and server
Verify server where document resides
Decide where webpage resides (URL)
› Corporate site?
› Political agenda?
› Philosophical agenda?
Explanations of research methods
provided
Bibliography / links to supporting
documents
Individuals/sources are identifiable
Use other sources to cross-reference
Date of information
Publication date
Date of last revision
Current, active links
You may work with a partner to utilize the
evaluation chart to evaluate two
different websites.
Spend approximately ten minutes per
website
http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
http://www.martinlutherking.org/
Upon review of the sites,
Conclusions?
What were some red flags?
What surprised you?
.edu = Education Site
.com = Commercial Sites - Unrestricted!
.gov = Government Agency
.org = Organizations – Unrestricted!
.net = Intended for ISP’s & Networks (but
can be purchased)
.info = Unrestricted!
.biz = Intended for Business – Unrestricted!
.pro = Professionals/Organizations
.k12.nj.us = Public / Private Schools
.library.nj.us = Public Libraries
.state.nj.us = Official State Websites
.name = Individual, Personal Website
Web Search Strategies In Plain English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8a
YoVpdz8o
Hints on identifying personal pages are
available in
Understanding and Decoding URLs.
http://www.library.jhu.edu/researchhelp/
general/evaluating/url.html
Read "Rising Tide: Sites Born of Hate",
New York Times, March 18, 1999 to learn
about tough-to-detect extremist point of
views.
http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/99
/02/circuits/articles/18hate.html
Get students to evaluate web pages by
exploring these hoax sites!
http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_mah/documen
ts/TCEA/hoaxtable.html
http://youtu.be/kWs4xP_fkhw
Tutorial which explains the ABC’s (and D’s)
of evaluating websites
http://tinyurl.com/44pemk
ALA’s Great Sites For Kids Selection Criteria
http://tiny.cc/8uegz
Site includes a website evaluation checklist,
a lesson plan, and a list of links for students
to evaluate
"Evaluating Internet Information." The
Sheridan Libraries Homepage. Web. 15
July 2010.
.
"Helpful Hints to Help You Evaluate the
Credibility of Web Resources." Mason
Academic Research System
(mason.gmu.edu). Web. 15 July 2010.
.
Morris, Pat. "Developing Validation Criteria
for WebPages." Reading. Web.
STANDARD 8.1 Computer and Information
Literacy: All students will use computer
applications to gather and organize
information and to solve problems.
8.1.8 B. Application of Productivity Tools
Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, and
appropriateness of print and non-print
electronic information sources.
8.1.12 B. Application of Productivity Tools
7. Evaluate information sources for
accuracy, relevance, and
appropriateness.
STANDARD 3.5 Viewing and Media
Literacy: All students will access, view,
evaluate, and respond to print, nonprint,
and electronic texts.
3.5.7 B. Visual and Verbal Messages
2. Evaluate various media messages for
credibility.
1. Inquire, think critically, and gain
knowledge
1.1.5 Evaluate the information found in
selected sources on the basis of
accuracy, validity, appropriateness for
needs, importance, and social and
cultural context.
1.2.4 Maintain a critical stance by
questioning the validity and accuracy of
all information
Learners will understand the
importance of assessing online
resources.
Learners will learn and apply 5 criteria
for assessing website credibility
Discuss the importance of knowing
the credibility of information sources.
Discuss the criteria posted in the
PowerPoint.
Distribute 2 copies of the Website
Evaluation Chart to each teacher.
Have teachers form pairs to explore
two websites with false information
and complete the evaluation chart.
Discussteachers’ conclusions.
Use the PowerPoint to show teachers
some web based material to support
further understanding.
Use the PowerPoint to provide
teachers with a few resources that
they could begin to use for lessons
with their students.
Show teachers how this connects to the
Technology, L.A.L., and Information Skills
standards.
Allow a few minutes for Q &A.
Website Evaluation Charts