EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION

EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION

A Workshop for Teachers

December 2009

A Workshop for Teachers

December 2009

Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology

Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology

Academic research has become technology enabled

• Information is widely available on Internet

• Need to critically evaluate this information

• Students must be taught key evaluation traits• Authority and Scope• Accuracy and Relevance• Up-to-Date

Academic research has become technology enabled

• Information is widely available on Internet

• Need to critically evaluate this information

• Students must be taught key evaluation traits• Authority and Scope• Accuracy and Relevance• Up-to-Date

Information literate students are able to:Information literate students are able to:

Access info efficiently and effectively

Evaluate info critically and competently

Use info accurately and creatively

Source: American Library Association, Information Power -”Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.” (1998)

Access info efficiently and effectively

Evaluate info critically and competently

Use info accurately and creatively

Source: American Library Association, Information Power -”Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.” (1998)

Teach students to be detectivesTeach students to be detectives

Look for clues

Ask questions - the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why)

Consider motives

Trust nobody until you can verify information

Source: Linda Starr. “Fact, Fiction or Opinion: Evaluating Online Information.” Education World <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr194.shtml>

Look for clues

Ask questions - the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why)

Consider motives

Trust nobody until you can verify information

Source: Linda Starr. “Fact, Fiction or Opinion: Evaluating Online Information.” Education World <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr194.shtml>

Key Traits - AuthorityKey Traits - Authority

Who is the author or sponsoring organization? Is the author an expert? Is there contact information? Can you find more about the sponsoring

organization?

Check the domain name in URL .edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .com “ ~ “ in address usually means personal web page

Who is the author or sponsoring organization? Is the author an expert? Is there contact information? Can you find more about the sponsoring

organization?

Check the domain name in URL .edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .com “ ~ “ in address usually means personal web page

Key Traits - ScopeKey Traits - Scope

Is the information fact or opinion? Is there evidence of bias?

Does the web site try to sell?

Does the web site try to persuade?

Is the information fact or opinion? Is there evidence of bias?

Does the web site try to sell?

Does the web site try to persuade?

Key Traits - AccuracyKey Traits - Accuracy

Can you verify the information is reliable? Check a print source

Check other sources

Are there links to other references or a bibliography?

Can you verify the information is reliable? Check a print source

Check other sources

Are there links to other references or a bibliography?

Key Traits - RelevantKey Traits - Relevant

Is the site useful for your research?

Would you recommend this web site to others?

Is the site useful for your research?

Would you recommend this web site to others?

Key Traits - Up-to-dateKey Traits - Up-to-date

When was the web site created?

When was the web site last updated?

When was the web site created?

When was the web site last updated?

Key Traits - Ease of UseKey Traits - Ease of Use

How is the web site organized? Is it easy to navigate around the web site? Is it searchable by keywords?

Are there links to other resources?

Are there graphics? Do they load quickly? Are they labeled clearly? Are they easy to view or too cluttered?

How is the web site organized? Is it easy to navigate around the web site? Is it searchable by keywords?

Are there links to other resources?

Are there graphics? Do they load quickly? Are they labeled clearly? Are they easy to view or too cluttered?

Other Web Site ToolsOther Web Site Tools

Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators(includes evaluation forms for elementary, middle & high schools, links to articles and other web sites)

UC Berkeley Library (“Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask”)

Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University (“Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages”)

Eduscapes - includes lessons, activities, evaluation criteria, links to misleading websites

Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators(includes evaluation forms for elementary, middle & high schools, links to articles and other web sites)

UC Berkeley Library (“Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask”)

Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University (“Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages”)

Eduscapes - includes lessons, activities, evaluation criteria, links to misleading websites

Other Web ToolsOther Web Tools

November Learning (includes information literacy resources - lessons, quizzes, links to misleading websites including the “Tree Octopus”). Several years ago Alan November was keynote speaker at district staff development day.

Librarians Internet Index (well-organized directory for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected websites)

November Learning (includes information literacy resources - lessons, quizzes, links to misleading websites including the “Tree Octopus”). Several years ago Alan November was keynote speaker at district staff development day.

Librarians Internet Index (well-organized directory for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected websites)