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Evaluating Websites. October, 2009. Webpage Evaluation Procedure. Identify the type of Web Page Advocacy Business/Marketing Informational News Personal Entertainment. The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation. WHO is the source of the information?
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Evaluating Websites October, 2009
Webpage Evaluation Procedure Identify the type of Web Page • Advocacy • Business/Marketing • Informational • News • Personal • Entertainment
The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation • WHO is the source of the information? • Has someone taken responsibility for the content of this web site? • Is information about the author or organization clearly stated? • Can you confirm that the company or author is a credible, authoritative source of information? • Can you contact the author/sponsor from the website? • How did you get here? Did you link to this site from a site you trust?
The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation • WHAT are you getting? • Is this page mostly fact or mostly opinion? • Is the information biased in any way? • Three main reasons information exists—to inform, persuade, and sell. • Some websites have an “About this site” link on the home page. • Are there links to the organization sponsoring the page? Or, does this seem like a lone person trying to voice his/her opinion?
The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation • WHEN was the site created? • Is it important that the information you are seeking be right up to date? • Is a reference date provided to show when the materials was put online, or when it was last updated? • Do the links work? • Does it matter to you whether this information is outdated? Why?
Deconstructing a web address • http://www.franklin.k12.wi.us • “http” hypertext document • “www” short form for the “World Wide Web” • franklin.k12. domain name of person or organization hosting the Web site. • wi.us location of site • ~ Sometimes you might see a (~) symbol. This indicates you may be on a personal Web page.
Domain Suffix .org non-profit organization .com commercial .net network or net provider .edu education .gov government .mil military .biz business
The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation • WHY are you here? • Before heading out into cyberspace, it’s a good idea to stop and consider whether or not the Internet is even the best place to go. Ask yourself: • Can I get the information faster off-line? • Does the online material I am finding suit my needs? Or, should I keep researching? • Am I able to verify this information? Can I find similar information elsewhere from places I trust? • Why is this page better than another?
Practicing Web Evaluation Save the Northwest Tree Octopus http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ DHMO http://www.dhmo.org/ California’s Velcro Crop Under Challenge http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html All About Explorers http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/
Bibliography • Shrock, Kathy. The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation. http://kathyschrock.net/abceval/5ws.pdf October 22, 2009. • Media Awareness Network. The 5 W’s of Cyberspace. http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/resources/educational/handouts/internet/5ws_cyberspace.cfm October 24, 2009. • Slide Background: Crystal Graphics. PowerPlugs for PowerPoints http://www.crystalgraphics.com/powerpoint/Templates.search.results.asp October 22, 2009.