Introduction to Introduction to Website EvaluationWebsite Evaluation

Patricia Heeter

EME6415

Learner Audience and Learning Objectives

• Learning Objectives: At the end of the tutorial, you will be able to:

– Name criteria used to evaluate a website.– Review a website and identify elements that meet the

criteria for evaluating a website.– Develop your own website evaluation checklist.– Evaluate a website using a website evaluation checklist

they you developed.

Website Website EvaluationEvaluation

INTRODUCTION

DEMONSTRATION

EVALUATION CRITERIA

EVALUATING A WEBSITE

DEVELOPING AN EVALUATION FORM

USING YOUR EVALUATION FORM

Select INTRODUCTION to learn how to evaluate a website.

Why do we need to evaluate web resources?

Next PageIntroduction

We need to evaluate web resources because:• Not all information has been placed on the web by

reliable sources.

• Unlike books, content on websites may not be reviewed prior to placing it on the World Wide Web.

• Let’s first visit a demonstration on how to evaluate a website using a Website Evaluation Form.

DemonstrationIntroduction

Demonstration

• Karen Jones teaches sixth grade History. She has decided to use a website to augment her lesson on the Civil War.

• Karen chose The United States Civil War Center website to evaluate.

Next Page

CurrencyKaren first looks to Karen first looks to

see if the website is see if the website is currentcurrent. . She notices She notices the site was last the site was last updated on March 17, updated on March 17, 2006. 2006.

She also finds no She also finds no evidence of current evidence of current content; and, content; and,

no pages have been no pages have been updated recently.updated recently.

Demonstration Next Page

Authority

Karen now looks to see who is responsible for the website or authority.

She finds authorship and contact information.

Demonstration Next Page

Accuracy

What is accurate?

(of information, measurements, statistics, etc.) correct in all details; exact.

How can you make sure?

DemonstrationNext Page

Accuracy

• Karen next looks to see if there is evidence that the information is accurate.

• She finds facts are well researched and compare to related print materials.

• Additional links are provided to quality Web resources.

DemonstrationNext Page

Objectivity• Karen reviews the

site to determine the purpose of the site or objectivity.

She sees that the purpose of the website is clearly stated.

Information appears to be factual and is backed by the sponsorship of the Louisiana State University.

Demonstration

Next Page

RelevanceKaren next looks at whether the website is relevant for her instructional purpose – teaching the civil war. She finds that the site is not logical or easy to navigate for students.Content is also above the grade level of her students. (Target your Audience)In the end, Karen determines that overall the website does not meet her instructional purposes. (You should be able to drive this type of conclusion.)

Demonstration Next Page

• The demonstration showed you how an instructor evaluated a website to determine if it could be used for instruction.

• Karen used the following criteria to evaluate the Civil War website:

– Currency– Authority– Accuracy– Objectivity – Relevancy

• Are there other criteria out there for evaluating a website you want to ADD?

Demonstration Evaluation Criteria

Website Evaluation Criteria

The Website Evaluation Form Karen used lists the following criteria:

1.Currency

2.Authority

3.Accuracy

4.Objectivity

5.Relevance

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Website Evaluation FormWEBSITE EVALUATION FORM

WEB URL: ________________________________________________________

CURRENCY – Is the information current?

Evidence of current content Pages updated recently

AUTHORITY – Who is responsible for the site?

Author (individual/institutional affiliation, organization) Credentials, expertise, experience Contact information (name, address, e-mail)

ACCURACY – Is the information accurate?

Facts documented or well-researched Facts compare to related print or other online sources Links provided to quality Web resources

OBJECTIVITY – Is the purpose of the site clear?

Purpose of site Information presented as factual or opinion, primary or secondary in origin Criteria for inclusion of information Disclosure of sponsorship or underwriting

RELEVANCE – Is the site relevant for instructional purposes?

Site organization logical and easy to maneuver for students Content readable by grade level of students Information presented is error-free (spelling, punctuation) Readily identifiable link back to the institution or organization’s home page

Karen’s Karen’s Website Website Evaluation Evaluation FormForm

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

What is Currency?

• Currency is determined by whether the information on the website is current.– Is there evidence of current content?– Have the pages been updated recently?

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Identifying Currency

Let’s go to The President’s House website and identify whether it is current.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Currency

Currency on The President’s House website is identified by the date of the copyright.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

What is Authority?

• Authority is determined by who is responsible for the website. – Is an author, individual/institutional affiliation,

or, organization identified?– Are credentials, expertise, or experience

listed on the website?– Is there contact information (name, address,

e-mail) on the website?

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Identifying Authority

Let’s go to in The President’s House website and determine if there is authority.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

AuthorityOn The President’s House website, authority is indicated by an institutional affiliation -- the Independence Hall Association. Authority is also indicated by the Contact Us link.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

What is Accuracy?

• Accuracy is determined by evaluating whether the information on the website is accurate.– Are facts documented or well-researched?– Do facts compare to related print or other

online sources?– Are links provided to quality Web resources?

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Identifying Accuracy

Locate an example of Accuracy on The President’s House website.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Accuracy

This page indicates This page indicates that facts are well that facts are well researched and researched and compare to related compare to related print materials. print materials.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

What is Objectivity?

• Determine objectivity by finding the purpose of the site. – Is the information presented as factual or

opinion? – Is the information primary or secondary in

origin?– Does the website indicate that it has

sponsorship or underwriting?

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Identifying Objectivity

Locate an example of Objectivity in The President’s House website.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Objectivity

On The President’s House website, the sponsorship disclosure details the history of the Independence Hall Association.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

What is Relevance?

• Relevance is determined by evaluating if the site can be used for instructional purposes.– Is the site organization logical and easy to maneuver

for students?– Is the content readable by grade level of students?– Is the information error-free (spelling, punctuation)?– Is there a readily identifiable link back to the institution

or organization’s home page?

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Identifying Relevance

Locate an example of relevance in The President’s House website.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Relevance

The President’s House website is relevant and can be used for instructional purposes.– It is logical and easy to

maneuver – Content is error free and

readable by a variety of grade levels

– There are links to the sponsor of the site – the Independence Hall Association

Evaluation CriteriaNext Page

WEBSITE EVALUATION FORMWEBSITE EVALUATION FORM

WEB URL: WEB URL: The President’s House in PhiladelphiaThe President’s House in Philadelphia

((http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/index.htm))

CURRENCY – Is the information current?CURRENCY – Is the information current? Evidence of current contentEvidence of current content

Pages updated recentlyPages updated recently

AUTHORITY – Who is responsible for the site?AUTHORITY – Who is responsible for the site?

Author (individual/institutional affiliation, organization)Author (individual/institutional affiliation, organization)

Credentials, expertise, experienceCredentials, expertise, experience

Contact information (name, address, e-mail)Contact information (name, address, e-mail)

ACCURACY – Is the information accurate?ACCURACY – Is the information accurate? Facts documented or well-researchedFacts documented or well-researched

Facts compare to related print or other online sourcesFacts compare to related print or other online sources

Links provided to quality Web resourcesLinks provided to quality Web resources

OBJECTIVITY – Is the purpose of the site clear?OBJECTIVITY – Is the purpose of the site clear? Purpose of sitePurpose of site

Information presented as factual or opinion, primary or secondary in originInformation presented as factual or opinion, primary or secondary in origin

Criteria for inclusion of informationCriteria for inclusion of information

Disclosure of sponsorship or underwritingDisclosure of sponsorship or underwriting

RELEVANCE – Is the site relevant for instructional purposes?RELEVANCE – Is the site relevant for instructional purposes? Site organization logical and easy to maneuver for studentsSite organization logical and easy to maneuver for students

Content readable by grade level of studentsContent readable by grade level of students

Information presented is error-free (spelling, punctuation)Information presented is error-free (spelling, punctuation)

Readily identifiable link back to the institution or organization’s home pageReadily identifiable link back to the institution or organization’s home page

This is the This is the completed completed evaluation evaluation form for The form for The President’s President’s House House website.website.

Evaluation Criteria

Next Page

Developing a Website Evaluation Form

Develop a form by answering these questions:• How will the Web resource be used?• What subject are you teaching?• What is the age of the students?• Will the students or teacher use the website?• What is the grade level of students?

Using your answers as a guide, review the website on the next page to receive additional information on website evaluation criteria.

Developing an Evaluation Form

Next Page

Review “Finding

Information on

the Internet: A

Tutorial” for additional

guidance on

developing a

website evaluation

form..

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.htmlhttp://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

Developing an Evaluation Form

Next Page

Creating the Form

• Choose at least four criteria for your website evaluation form

• Specify requirements for each of the criterion – how can you determine if this has been found?

• Develop a form WITH the help of your group mates.

• Upload all your resources in your group wiki

Developing an Evaluation Form

Using Your

Evaluation Form

Questions?