Evaluating Internet Resource
(information from http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic32.htm)Misleading Websites:
Some websites were designed to be intentionally misleading. These
websites may be parodies, satire, hoaxes, or designed to show students
the importance of questioning information found on the web.
Use the following websites to explore the issue of Internet content.
Some are real and some are fake or silly. How will you teach students to
question EVERYTHING they read? Select one to use as an example. - Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
- California's Velcro Crop under Challenge
- Dehydrated Water
- Did the Holocaust happen?
- Dog Island
- Facts About from Idiotica
- The Faked Apollo Landings
Criteria for Evaluation
Students need to learn to evaluate the quality of information they find on the web as well as other information resources such as books, magazines, CD-ROM, and television. Ask students to be skeptical of everything they find. Encourage them to compare and contrast different information resources. Consider the following ideas:Authority. Who says? Know the author.
- Who created this information and why?
- Do you recognize this author or their work?
- What knowledge or skills do they have in the area?
- Is he or she stating fact or opinion?
- What else has this author written?
- Does the author acknowledge other viewpoints and theories?
- Is the information objective or subjective?
- Is it full of fact or opinion?
- Does it reflect bias? How?
- How does the sponsorship impact the perspective of the information?
- Are a balance of perspectives represented?
- Could the information be meant as humorous, a parody, or satire?
- Where does the information originate?
- Is the information from an established organization?
- Has the information been reviewed by others to insure accuracy?
- Is this a primary source or secondary source of information?
- Are original sources clear and documented?
- Is a bibliography provided citing the sources used?
- Are the sources truth worthy? How do you know?
- Who is sponsoring this publication?
- Does the information come from a school, business, or company site?
- What's the purpose of the information resource: to inform, instruct, persuade, sell? Does this matter?
- What's their motive?
- Does the page provide information about timeliness such as specific dates of information?
- Does currency of information matter with your particular topic?
- How current are the sources or links?
- Does the information contain the breadth and depth needed?
- Is the information written in a form that is useable (i.e. reading level, technical level)?
- Is the information in a form that is useful such as words, pictures, charts, sounds, or video?
- Do the facts contribute something new or add to your knowledge of the subject?
- Will this information be useful to your project?
- Is the information well-organized including a table of contents, index, menu, and other easy-to-follow tools for navigation?
- Is the information presented in a way that is easy to use (i.e., fonts, graphics, headings)?
- Is the information quick to access?
Web Evaluation Tools
- Critical Evaluation Tools from Kathy Schrock
- Website Evaluation Form (PPT), Evaluation Activity (PPT), and Student Sample (PPT)