Internet Detective

1. Internet Detective Searching for Clues Evaluating Web Sites C. Johnson

2. Evaluating Web Sites All information is not created equal! Facts: • Anyone can be an author on the Internet whether an amateur or an expert. • Information can be true, false or change. • Web sites can be removed without warning. C. Johnson

3. Evaluating Web Sites A web site suitable for research is • Accurate Facts are correct! • Authoritative Written by an expert • Objective Based on facts NOT opinion • Current Up-to-date C. Johnson

4. Evaluating Web Sites Be an Internet Detective • Ask questions and look for clues. • Weigh the evidence to make a judgment. To evaluate a web site you must ask • Who? • What? • When? • Where? • Why? • How? C. Johnson

5. Evaluating Web Sites WHO? Facts • Anyone can publish a web site about any topic. • Web sites are created by • businesses • schools • organizations • individuals C. Johnson

6. Evaluating Web Sites WHO? Think • Would you trust a web site created about • fixing cars by the classmate sitting next to you? • wrestling techniques by your librarian? • how to find information in our library by your librarian? C. Johnson

7. Evaluating Web Sites WHO? Ask • Is the author identified? • Is the author an expert on the topic? • How can you find out more about the author? • Can you contact the author from the site? • Is the author part of an organization you know? • Is the site sponsored by a government, organization, school, or company? • Did you get to the site by from a link you trust? C. Johnson

8. Evaluating Web Sites WHAT? Facts Web sites have a variety of purposes: • To inform • To sell • To persuade • To communicate • To entertain • To misinform • Urban Legends • Hoax • Hate sites C. Johnson

9. Evaluating Web Sites WHAT? Think A web site you use for one purpose may not work for another. • Purchase music by The Beatles • Report on the history of The Beatles C. Johnson

10. Evaluating Web Sites WHAT? Ask • Is the purpose of the site stated? • Is the site trying to sell, inform, or persuade? • Does there appear to be another purpose? • Is the information presented with a minimum of bias? • Is there in depth information or is it limited? • Do links support the content? • Does the content have informational value? • Is the same information available in other sources? • Who is the target audience? C. Johnson

11. Evaluating Web Sites WHEN? Facts • There is no one organization or person who removes old web sites or outdated information. • The organization or person creating the web site must do this. (They don’t always remember or take the time to do this!) C. Johnson

12. Evaluating Web Sites WHEN? Think • Is a recent update important if you want to know • the name of president of the United States? • the title of Taylor Swift’s latest album? • George Washington’s birthday? C. Johnson

13. Evaluating Web Sites WHEN? Ask • When was it created? • When was it last updated? • Is the information current? • Does a current date matter? C. Johnson

14. Evaluating Web Sites WHERE? Facts • Web sites can be evaluated by looking at the URL. • A URL (Universal Resource Locator) is the address you type to go to a web site C. Johnson

15. Evaluating Web Sites WHERE? Think • Domains make up the URL • edu or ac -- educational institution • com or net -- commercial organization • org -- nonprofit organizations • gov -- government agency • mil -- military C. Johnson

16. Evaluating Web Sites WHERE? Ask • What is the site's address/URL? • Is the server at a school? A business? A governmental agency? • Is this a personal page with a "~" or ".name" in the URL? • Can I find more about the sponsor? C. Johnson

17. Evaluating Web Sites WHY? Fact You will have different reasons for using information: • School report • Buying something • Fun • Communicating C. Johnson

18. Evaluating Web Sites WHY? Think • A web site you use for one purpose may not work for another: • You want to see a movie tonight; • You want to read a review of a movie; • You want to know if a movie won any awards; • You want to tell your friends about a movie you loved! C. Johnson

19. Evaluating Web Sites WHY? Ask • Why is this information useful for my purpose? • Why should I use this information? • Why is this page better than another? C. Johnson

20. Evaluating Web Sites HOW? Facts • Appearance of a site can tell you about its content • Some web sites are designed better than others C. Johnson

21. Evaluating Web Sites HOW? Think • Spelling errors • Too much to look at • Broken links C. Johnson

22. Evaluating Web Sites HOW? ask • Is the page easy to understand and use? • Is the page well organized or does it look too busy? • Do all of the links work? • Is the page free from a lot of advertising? • Is the content accurate? • Are there spelling or grammar errors? C. Johnson

23. Evaluating Web Sites Web sites do not have a title or verso page. Look for clues in the • The header • The side bar • The body • The foot C. Johnson

24. Evaluating Web Sites Basic web page layout • The header • home page link • contact • author • sponsor C. Johnson

25. Evaluating Web Sites Basic web page layout • The side bar • home page • contact C. Johnson

26. Evaluating Web Sites Basic web page layout • The body • content • purpose • audience C. Johnson

27. Evaluating Web Sites Basic web page layout • The foot • contact • author • date • link to home page C. Johnson

28. Evaluating Web Sites Click on one of these links to find clues. http://www.jellogallery.org http://www.dhmo.org http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/ http://www.biography.com/ http://www.loc.gov/index.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/ http://www.pigeonpresents.com/ http://www.descy.50megs.com/Emankato/mankato.html C. Johnson

29. Evaluating Web Sites Works Cited Schrock, Kathy. 2008. The 5 Ws of Web Site Evaluation. Web. 1 Apr. 2010. “Searching for Web Sites.” 2002. Using the Web. Houghton Mifflin. Web. 8 Mar. 2009. C. Johnson