Shelly Eaton

SLM521SP03

Elective-Evaluating Websites

 

Evaluating Websites

 

Teachers constantly use websites to write papers, gather information, teach students, etc. We need to be critical of each website that we use, since anyone can put a website on the Internet. The following is a list of questions that you can ask yourself to make sure the website you are using is valid.  You can also use these questions in your classroom. They are kid friendly.

 

1. Who is the information for?

         •children

•teenagers

         •adults

         •people who work in the field discussed

         •beginner readers

         •advanced readers

2. What information is provided?

         •Does the site state facts?

         •Does the site state opinions?

         •Does the site have a lot of ads?

3. What is the URL?

         •government (.gov)

         •educational (.edu)

         •commercial (.com)

         •military (.mil)

4. When was the site last updated?

5. Is the information accurate?

•Does the author have background knowledge to be writing this topic?

         •Is inappropriate material used?

         •Is the author biased about this topic?

         •Is the site interactive and does it cover the topic in depth?

`        •Is the information given accurate compared to other sites?

6.  Based on the information gained can you use this site for a report?

 

 

 

 

Below is the analysis of two sites that I looked at and evaluated based on the questions found above. My answers are in red! To make sure you have an accurate site, you should evaluate at least three sites. I have only completed two, so if I was doing this for a project another website would be evaluated.

 

The Official Site of Christopher Columbus

 

1. Who is the information for?

         •children

         •intermediate readers

2. What information is provided?

         •Does the site state facts? YES

         •Does the site state opinions? NO

         •Does the site have a lot of ads? NONE

3. What is the URL?

         •educational (.edu)

4. When was the site last updated? NOT STATED

5. Is the information accurate?

•Does the author have background knowledge to write this topic?

NO INFO ON AUTHOR

         •Is inappropriate material used?  NO

         •Is the author biased about this topic?

         •Is the site interactive and does it cover the topic in depth? YES

•Is the information given accurate compared to other sites? ABSOLUTLEY NOT!

6.  Based on the information gained can you use this site for a project?

NO!

 

 

The Explorations of Christopher Columbus

 

1. Who is the information for?

         •children

•teenagers

2. What information is provided?

         •Does the site state facts? YES

         •Does the site state opinions? NO

         •Does the site have a lot of ads? NONE

3. What is the URL?

         •HTML-personal

4. When was the site last updated? 1998

5. Is the information accurate?

•Does the author have background knowledge to write this topic? YES- works at a museum

         •Is inappropriate material used?  NO

         •Is the author biased about this topic? NO

•Is the site interactive and does it cover the topic in depth? YES

•Is the information given accurate compared to other sites? YES

6.  Based on the information gained can you use this site for project?

YES