Evaluating Websites Why evaluate websites The Internet has
Evaluating Websites
Why evaluate websites? • The Internet has so many websites that it can be difficult to tell the good ones from the bad ones. • Some websites are much more reliable and valuable than others. • Anyone can post a website without it being censored or verified.
Criteria for evaluating websites: • URL Address • Authority • Usefulness • Currency • Navigation
URL Address (the http address of the website) More reliable: . edu – educational facility/school. org – nonprofit organization. gov – government. mil-military Less reliable: . com/. net –commercial/company sites (usually includes advertising)
Do you know the difference between these two sites? http: //thewhitehouse. gov http: //whitehouse. net
Authority (the author’s/publisher’s expertise) • Is the author’s name provided and clear? • What makes the author an expert? (education, occupation) • How is the spelling and grammar? • Can you contact the author?
Why evaluate the author? • Anyone can post a website and include information on the Internet without prior approval. • Most websites are published before the content is evaluated by experts of the subject. http: //www. datasync. com/~davidg 59/genocide. html
Usefulness (the site has the information you need) • Does the information look useful? • What topics are covered? • Are there topics covered that can’t be found anywhere else? • It is worth saving to my favorites? (bookmarking it)
Why evaluate usefulness? Some websites are completely useless. Examples of these types of websites include: • “Just for fun” • Blogging • Gaming • Hoaxes • “Infomercials” • Personal expressions • Social websites http: //www. datasync. com/~davidg 59/genocide. html
Currency (the website is up-to-date) • Can you find the date the site was created? • If so, when was the site last updated/revised? • Do the links work? (Have some expired or moved? ) • Does the date of publication and/or the date of the last update affect the reliability of the information? http: //www. datasync. com/~davidg 59/genocide. html
Navigation (the website is easy to use) • Is the text readable? • Is the site visually appealing? • Is it easy to move around the site? (navigation) • Is the site geared toward students? http: //www. datasync. com/~davidg 59/genocide. html
Rating Web Sites Rubric:
Using the Rating Web Sites Rubric: http: //www. datasync. com/~davidg 59/ genocide. html
Time to Practice! • In groups you are going to practice evaluating one website together using the Rating Web Sites graphic organizer • Website examples/links are listed on the Evaluating Websites library project page • Your group # is the same as your website # • You are going to present your website and your evaluation to the class afterwards
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