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EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION. A Workshop for Teachers December 2009. Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology. Academic research has become technology enabled Information is widely available on Internet Need to critically evaluate this information
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EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION A Workshop for Teachers December 2009
Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology Academic research has become technology enabled • Information is widely available on Internet • Need to critically evaluate this information • Students must be taught key evaluation traits • Authority and Scope • Accuracy and Relevance • Up-to-Date
Information literate students are able to: • Access info efficiently and effectively • Evaluate info critically and competently • Use info accurately and creatively Source: American Library Association, Information Power -”Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.” (1998)
Teach students to be detectives • Look for clues • Ask questions - the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why) • Consider motives • Trust nobody until you can verify information Source: Linda Starr. “Fact, Fiction or Opinion: Evaluating Online Information.” Education World <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr194.shtml>
Key Traits - Authority • Who is the author or sponsoring organization? • Is the author an expert? • Is there contact information? • Can you find more about the sponsoring organization? • Check the domain name in URL • .edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .com • “ ~ “ in address usually means personal web page
Key Traits - Scope • Is the information fact or opinion? • Is there evidence of bias? • Does the web site try to sell? • Does the web site try to persuade?
Key Traits - Accuracy • Can you verify the information is reliable? • Check a print source • Check other sources • Are there links to other references or a bibliography?
Key Traits - Relevant • Is the site useful for your research? • Would you recommend this web site to others?
Key Traits - Up-to-date • When was the web site created? • When was the web site last updated?
Key Traits - Ease of Use • How is the web site organized? • Is it easy to navigate around the web site? • Is it searchable by keywords? • Are there links to other resources? • Are there graphics? • Do they load quickly? • Are they labeled clearly? • Are they easy to view or too cluttered?
Other Web Site Tools • Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators(includes evaluation forms for elementary, middle & high schools, links to articles and other web sites) • UC Berkeley Library (“Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask”) • Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University (“Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages”) • Eduscapes - includes lessons, activities, evaluation criteria, links to misleading websites
Other Web Tools • November Learning (includes information literacy resources - lessons, quizzes, links to misleading websites including the “Tree Octopus”). Several years ago Alan November was keynote speaker at district staff development day. • Librarians Internet Index (well-organized directory for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected websites)