Evaluating Internet-based Resources

Criteria for determining appropriateness Criteria for determining appropriateness of internet-based resourcesof internet-based resources

AuthorityAuthority What can the URL tell you?What can the URL tell you? Identified authorIdentified author Author states credentialsAuthor states credentials

DatesDates Site contains creation, update, Site contains creation, update, and data collection timesand data collection times

Criteria Cont’d.Criteria Cont’d.

BiasBias Site provides multiple viewpoints Site provides multiple viewpoints with no biaswith no bias

Accuracy Accuracy Data quality is unquestionedData quality is unquestioned Site meets its objectivesSite meets its objectives Another site on the same topic Another site on the same topic would have similar factswould have similar facts

DesignDesign Organized logically (easy to Organized logically (easy to navigate)navigate)

Free of errors when loadingFree of errors when loading

CitationsCitations All sources properly cited, incl All sources properly cited, incl Copyright datesCopyright dates

Full bibliography with active links Full bibliography with active links Quality sourcesQuality sources

Criteria Cont’d.Criteria Cont’d.

LinksLinks Working internal and external Working internal and external linkslinks

Well-chosen, well-organized Well-chosen, well-organized What other sites link to the page? What other sites link to the page? ((www.alexa.comwww.alexa.com) )

Criteria Cont’d.Criteria Cont’d.

Practice WebsitePractice Website

http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/http://observe.arc.nasa.gov/nasa/earth/ hydrocycle/hydro1.html earth/ hydrocycle/hydro1.html

How do we teach our kids to How do we teach our kids to evaluate internet resources???evaluate internet resources???

Provide students with a simplified Provide students with a simplified questionnaire to guide them through questionnaire to guide them through the evaluation process.the evaluation process.

Examine the parts of a URL.Examine the parts of a URL. Compare two websites on the same Compare two websites on the same topictopic

Compare information to non-Internet Compare information to non-Internet source (encyclopedia, textbook, source (encyclopedia, textbook, etc.)etc.)

Provide list of appropriate search Provide list of appropriate search engines and teach appropriate use.engines and teach appropriate use.

Recommended Children’s Search Recommended Children’s Search EnginesEngines

Yahooligans: Yahooligans: www.www.yahooligansyahooligans.com.com Ask Jeeves for Kids: Ask Jeeves for Kids: www.www.ajkidsajkids.com.com AOL at School: AOL at School: http://www.aolatschool.com/elementarhttp://www.aolatschool.com/elementary/ search/browse.adpy/ search/browse.adp

SEARCH ENGINE RESOURCES:SEARCH ENGINE RESOURCES:

http://www.ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearchhttp://www.ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html.html

Recommended Teacher ResourcesRecommended Teacher Resources

Blue Web’n: Blue Web’n: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/

Educator’s Reference Desk: Educator’s Reference Desk: http://www.eduref.org/http://www.eduref.org/

Innovative Teaching: Innovative Teaching: http://www.surfaquarium.com/it/ http://www.surfaquarium.com/it/

Smithsonian Education: Smithsonian Education: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educahttp://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/ tors/

Sites for Teachers: Sites for Teachers: http://www.sitesforteachers.com http://www.sitesforteachers.com