The ABC�s of Web Site Class Use

The ABC’s of Web Site Evaluation : 

The ABC’s of Web Site Evaluation Should we believe what we read on the Internet?

The ability to critically evaluate information is an invaluable skill in this information age. : 

The ability to critically evaluate information is an invaluable skill in this information age. Here are 26 criteria to assess every web page the Internet has to offer.

Authority : 

Authority When we look at Internet information with a critical eye, we want to know the basis of the author’s authority. Is the author a well-regarded name you recognize? Does the online document contain a biography and an email address?

Bias : 

Bias Is it clear what organization is sponsoring the page? Is there is a link to the sponsoring organization’s Web site? Is the page actually an ad disguised as information?

Citations : 

Citations If the author of a site includes a source biography, students can consult these sources. This allows the student to evaluate the author’s scholarship.

Dates : 

Dates Every credible Web site should includes the date that it was created and the date of last update. Efficiency

Fallacy : 

Fallacy As with print material, one thing that may happen on a Web site is that the information presented may be used out of context. Tree Octopus http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

Jerry-Built : 

Jerry-Built Before looking online, students should have working knowledge of the topics they are pursuing. Knowledge When evaluating a site, students need to understand that a page that contains multiple spelling and grammatical errors may have been thrown together and may not be reliable.

Misinformation : 

Misinformation The links should be appropriate for the site’s intended audience and also offer something that is not available at any other online destination and Links should work!! Links Students need to realize some of the sources on the Web contain lots of misinformation.

Navigability : 

Navigability A Web page should be designed for easy navigation. Links should be easy to identify and grouped in some type of logical order. An added bonus is the inclusion of a keyword search function.

Quantity of Information : 

Quantity of Information There is tons of information on the Internet. Does the site you are exploring help you to eliminate some of the frustrations of the over-abundance of information?

Requirements : 

Requirements Some sites have certain requirements for use. Students should learn to exercise caution if they are asked to submit registration information at a site. Another annoyance is the use of proprietary software (plug-ins or players) that forces the user to access the site using a specific Internet browser. When evaluating a Web site to use for instruction, be aware that, if it was designed for one browser or the other, it may not be presented properly.

The Five W’s : 

The Five W’s As with any investigative reporting, students can easily apply the five W ’s to simply evaluate a Web site: Who wrote the pages and are they an expert in the field? What does the author say is the purpose of the site? When was the site created,updated, last worked on? Where does the information come from? Why is the information useful?

Zen : 

Zen …..If we strive to teach students the best way to critically evaluate the information that they find in relation to the purpose at hand, we will produce a generation of digitally literate adults who are equipped to learn throughout their lifetimes. …..In the end, is this not the greatest lesson we can teach today’s students?

Information from : 

Information from ettc.net/workshops/internet%20site%20evaluation/The%20ABC.ppt Retrieved January 15, 2010