Internet LiteracyInternet LiteracyEvaluating Web SitesEvaluating Web Sites

ObjectiveObjective

The Student will be The Student will be able to evaluate able to evaluate

internet web sites internet web sites for accuracy and for accuracy and

reliabilityreliability

Lesson PlanLesson Plan Content and AssignmentsContent and Assignments 1. Lecture /Presentation on types of web sites, 1. Lecture /Presentation on types of web sites,

url’s, evaluation techniques, i.e. links, url’s, evaluation techniques, i.e. links, appearance, author, sponsor, etc.appearance, author, sponsor, etc.

2. Choose 3 web sites to evaluate.2. Choose 3 web sites to evaluate. 3. Using provided criteria, evaluate chosen 3. Using provided criteria, evaluate chosen

web sites. web sites. 4. Summary essay. 4. Summary essay. 5. Evaluate sources chosen for research paper. 5. Evaluate sources chosen for research paper.

ResourcesResources

ResourcesResources (text, article, interactive (text, article, interactive learning object)learning object) 1. Powerpoint1. Powerpoint 2. Handout2. Handout 3. Computers3. Computers 4. Internet access 4. Internet access

Choose Your Choose Your Topic…Topic…

What topic are you What topic are you researching?researching?

Be specific…Be specific… Form a question.Form a question.

Think about it….Think about it….

Why is it important Why is it important to check the to check the reliability of reliability of

information found information found on the internet?on the internet?

Make sure you Make sure you are in the right place…are in the right place… Ask yourself why you are using Ask yourself why you are using

the Web.the Web. Is it the appropriate source for Is it the appropriate source for

the information you are seeking?the information you are seeking?

NOTE: NOTE: An hour on the Web my not answer a An hour on the Web my not answer a

question you could find within two minutes question you could find within two minutes of picking up a reference book.of picking up a reference book.

When in Doubt,When in Doubt,Doubt!Doubt!

Anyone can put up almost anything Anyone can put up almost anything on the Web for almost any purpose.on the Web for almost any purpose.

Look for Ambiguity, manipulative Look for Ambiguity, manipulative reasoning, and bias (esp. your own!)reasoning, and bias (esp. your own!)

Check for accuracy by comparing the Check for accuracy by comparing the site to other sources.site to other sources.

Consider the Consider the Source…Source…

Find out who wrote or created the Web Find out who wrote or created the Web pages and something that indicates pages and something that indicates that they are a “good source”.that they are a “good source”.

Just because someone writes Just because someone writes something, it doesn’t necessarily mean something, it doesn’t necessarily mean they know what they are talking about.they know what they are talking about.

Know what’s Know what’s happening…happening…

What is the purpose of the Web page?What is the purpose of the Web page? Is it to inform, to persuade, or sell Is it to inform, to persuade, or sell

something?something?

NOTE: Advertising and opinion can NOTE: Advertising and opinion can both be disguised. If you know the both be disguised. If you know the motive behind a web page’s creation. motive behind a web page’s creation.

Look at Details!Look at Details! Good Grammar / Correct SpellingGood Grammar / Correct Spelling Is the language simple or technical Is the language simple or technical

and demanding?and demanding? Are facts documented?Are facts documented? Is the information organized?Is the information organized? When was the page was last revised?When was the page was last revised?

Distinguish Web pages Distinguish Web pages from pages found on from pages found on

the Web…the Web… When people refer to Web pages, When people refer to Web pages,

they usually aren’t talking about they usually aren’t talking about books and periodicals, however, books and periodicals, however, BOTH are accessible through the BOTH are accessible through the Web.Web.

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions 1. Does the site you chose address the topic you are researching?1. Does the site you chose address the topic you are researching? 2. Do you have good reason to believe that the information on the 2. Do you have good reason to believe that the information on the

site is accurate? Do authors provide an supportive evidence for site is accurate? Do authors provide an supportive evidence for their conclusions?their conclusions?

3. Who is responsible for the site? Do the authors have any 3. Who is responsible for the site? Do the authors have any authority or expertise? Do they provide a means to contact them? authority or expertise? Do they provide a means to contact them? Is this a commercial, governmental, personal, or academic web Is this a commercial, governmental, personal, or academic web site?site?

4. What is the purpose of the site? Is the main purpose to inform, 4. What is the purpose of the site? Is the main purpose to inform, persuade, or sell something? Do you understand what is being persuade, or sell something? Do you understand what is being said? Are the facts documented? What do you think has not been said? Are the facts documented? What do you think has not been said that should be addressed?said that should be addressed?

5. Is the site well organized? Are there misspelled words or 5. Is the site well organized? Are there misspelled words or examples of poor grammar? Do the links work? Does the site examples of poor grammar? Do the links work? Does the site offer anything unique or does it tell you little more than you could offer anything unique or does it tell you little more than you could find in the encyclopedia? Are the graphics on the page clear and find in the encyclopedia? Are the graphics on the page clear and helpful or distracting and confusing? What opinions do others helpful or distracting and confusing? What opinions do others have about the Web page?have about the Web page?

6. Do you think this page designed for the Web, or do you think it 6. Do you think this page designed for the Web, or do you think it was originally something else? If it was originally something else, was originally something else? If it was originally something else, what something else was it?what something else was it?

WorksheetWorksheet Complete the Following for three web sites:Complete the Following for three web sites:

Evaluation topic__________Evaluation topic__________ Web address_____________Web address_____________

A. AuthorityA. AuthorityB. AccuracyB. AccuracyC. ObjectivityC. ObjectivityD. CurrencyD. CurrencyE. CoverageE. CoverageF. ValueF. Value

Summary:Summary:Additional Comments/ ConcernsAdditional Comments/ Concerns

For more info…For more info…

http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.htmlhttp://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.htmlhttp://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.htmlhttp://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.html http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/eval.htmlhttp://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/eval.html http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.htmlhttp://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/

Evaluate.htmlEvaluate.html

Application and EvaluationApplication and Evaluation

n Apply to Research Project Apply to Research Project n Sources used in Research project will Sources used in Research project will

be evaluated as part of overall be evaluated as part of overall project grade based on the following:project grade based on the following: A. AuthorityA. Authority

B. AccuracyB. AccuracyC. ObjectivityC. ObjectivityD. CurrencyD. CurrencyE. CoverageE. CoverageF. ValueF. Value