Evaluating a Web Site

1. Evaluating a Web Site

2. Student Objectives Student will compile a web site evaluation folder to use for reference use. All assignments will be placed in this folder for final grade.

3. Student Objectives Student will use web evaluation guidelines to determine authenticity. Student will choose 3 forms from a choice of 4 to use for evaluations. Use forms to evaluate five sites as given by teacher. (place in folder)

4. Student Objectives *Access article from site: http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/credibility/page1.htm (Read article, “Why Evaluate Web Information?” (place in Web Site Evaluation folder with three reasons why we evaluate sites)

5. Student Objectives Student will be given questions to use as a guideline to web evaluation. Student will answer questions in order to determine the validity of a web page. (place in folder)

6. Topics Covered • The importance of web evaluation • Review of traditional evaluation criteria • Application of evaluation criteria to specific types of web resources

7. Importance of Web Evaluation • Quality of web resources varies tremendously! • Scams are out there! • Truth or falsehood? • Bias/Objectivity of information? • The search for trustworthy information.

8. Evaluation Criteria • Authority • Objectivity • Accuracy • Currency • Coverage

9. Criterion #1: Accuracy • Almost anyone can publish on the Web • Many Web resources not verified by editors and/or fact checkers • Web standards to ensure accuracy not fully developed.

10. Criterion #2: Authority • Often difficult to determine authorship of Web resources • If author’s name listed, his/her qualifications often absent • Publisher responsibility often not indicated

11. Criterion #3: Objectivity * Web often functions as a “virtual soapbox” * Goals/aims of persons or groups presenting material often not clearly stated

12. Criterion #4: Currency • Dates not always included on Web pages • If included, a date may have various meanings: -Date first created -Date placed on Web -Date last reviewed

13. Criterion #5: Coverage • Web coverage may differ from print or other media coverage • Often hard to determine extent of Web coverage

14. Who wrote it? When was it written? Why was it written? Is is biased? Is is authentic? Is the author an expert? (http://library/usm.maine.edu/guides/webeval.html print and place in folder) Is the page easy to use? Is the page free from HTML errors? Are the graphics useful? Can you verify the information? Is the bibliography included? Questions to Ask?

15. Web Page Evaluation Procedure Step 1: Identify the type of Web Page • Advocacy • Business/Marketing • Informational • News • Personal • Entertainment

16. Web Page Evaluation Procedure Step 2: Use the appropriate checklist * Answer questions with “Yes” or “No”

17. Web Page Evaluation Procedure Step 3: Based on the checklist criteria, determine the relative quality of the Web page *the greater number of checklist questions answered “yes”, the more likely the page is of higher informational quality

18. http://lrs.edu.uiuc.edu/wp/credibility/page1/htm http://library/usm.maine.edu/guides/webeval.html http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/evalhigh.html http://muse.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webeval/eval1198/sld002.htm http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/evalrole.html Students will use material taken from each of these sites The four evaluation forms are adapted from these sites Students will have to access a few of these sites in order to complete assignments Internet Reference Sites

19. Overview of Lesson • Inclusion seniors: Study Skills class • Length of lesson: one school week or as needed from student pace

20. Students will understand the importance of Web Evaluation Students will compile a working portfolio for Web Evaluation usage Students will have a broad variety of Web Evaluation forms to choose from Students will complete Web Evaluations using criteria given Conclusion