Technology in the Classroom: Website Evaluation Exercise

Website Evaluation Exercise

created by Bruce White :Teacher Librarian, Google Certified Teacher, Technology trainer.....

The shotened URL for this document is:

http://tinyurl.com/evaluation-websites

Introduction:

This resource is set-up to help teachers and students explore the concept of good or high quality web resourcesand not so good web resources. The links are found on sites created by other teachers. The source of the material is provided as a link.

ISTE Standards for 21st Century Students is a set of skills or standards that students of the 21st Century need.

ISTE Standards for Students

We live in a visual world. We are reading information from signs, newspapers, and the Internet. A web page can be created in a mater of minutes. Information can be spread within minutes to hundreds if not 1000s of people on the Internet. Identifying real or factual information is a critical skilss in our interactive world.

The Dove commerical is an example of how reality can be altered.

Dove - Evolution Commercial on You Tube - This is a good example how images or ideas can be manipulated

The fake or real images in the National Geographics site helps you understand how to look closer at images to see if they have been altered.

Trick Photographs - how to spot altered photographs (National Geographics for Kids website) Good story starters

Some Questions to Think About When Surfing the Internet?

1. How do you tell a good website from a poor or bad website?

What skills do you need to filter the good from the bad?

2. Why would someone want to create a fake webiste?

Look up snake oil salesman.

Become a Detective

Ask Questions:

Who (Who wrote the pages? Are they experts in their field?, Is there info on the writer, What else has the writer/ author created?)
What (What does the author say is the purpose of the site? What other purposes might the author have for the site? What makes the site easy to use or move about on the site? What information is included on the site? Is the information given consistent with information found on other sites?)
When (When was the site created? When was itb last revised or updated)
Where ( Where does the information come from? Whre can I find out more about the sponsors for the site?)
How,
Why ( Why is the information useful for my assignment or research? Why should I use this information? Whjy is this page or inofmation better than another site)
Which ( Of all the information gathered, which site is better, What information is better for my purpose?)
Other Questions
See Kathy Schrock's The Five W's of Web Site Evauation.

Avoid Fake Web sites

1. Watch for statments that go against common snese.

2. Check for words that are made up or nonsensical.

3. Look for pictures to see whether or not thye make sense.

4. Watch for images that look like they have been altered.

5. Look for irony or satire in the text.

6. Look for exaggeration in the text.

7. Watch for sites that look official, but are not.

8. Watch for total nonsense.

The 10 Cs for Evaluating Internet Resources

Source: "On Your Own" Pages 27 and 28

Content

What is/ are the intent of the content?

Are the title and author identified?

Is there evidence the content has been reviewed or edited?

What is the date of the document?

Is there overall attention to detail enough to indicate content quality?

What journals, authors, etc. are cited(referenced) in the references?

Exercise: How to make a real like Fake Website

Credibility

Is the author an expert on the subject?
Has he or she any credentials listed or awards listed
Is the author identifiable and reliable
- An absence of contact information is a warning flag
Is the content
- credible
- authoritative
What is the URL extension?
- .edu (education), .org (an organization) .com (commercial, .gov (government)
What cautions must be taken for each different type of source?
Can you identify the sponsor and the author's affiliation?
- Is there a bias?

Exercise: Stinky Journalism

Critical Thinking

Does the information confirm your prior knowledge of the topic?
Can you identify the:
- author
- publisher
- edition as with print material

Exercise: Whales in the Great Lakes

Copyright

Copyright applies to
- graphics / images
- sound / music
- as well as the written content of the documents
Materials are only in the "Public Domain" if explicitly stated. "Fair Use" applies to short cited excerpts. Some material may have "Creative Commons usage" rights .
Users must respect copyright and the rights of the people who have created the original material. Permission must be given for its use publicly.

Exercise: Copyright Myths

Citation

Internet resources must be cited to give credit to the author.
Citations provide an avenue for further research
Citations show evidence of research

Online Tools for creating Citations. Some online tools to create citations:

Noodle Tools
Son of Citation Machine
Easy Bibliography User: BWGraphs@gmail.com Password: _ _ _ _
I have a password for IDCI

Continuity

Is the information on the site valid and credible
Can you rely on this site over time to provide up-to-date information?
Does the site provide an update statement? Do you know when it is updated? Is it regularly updated or is it static?
Is the site free? or do you have to subscribe or pay a fee?

Censorship / Filtering

Does your school apply restrictions to Internet use?
Consider censorship and privacy issues?

Question: Why would some sites be filtered?

Connectivity / Accessibility

Will the site be accessible in the time frame required?
Will you have access to it from a variety of locations?
Are there user names and passwords for its use outside the location you had access to?
Are there any special hardware/ software specifications?

Comparability

Does the site contain full text information or is it summary of the article?
Can you find at least three other resources to compare the information to?

Content

What is the context of your research?
Is the information appropriate for your needs?
Are you looking for:
- Commentary
- Opinion
- Narrative information
- Current information
- Historical information
- Definitions
- Statistical data
- Research studies
- Articles

Sources of Fake Websites

http://www.philb.com/fakesites.htm

Dihydrogen Monoxide
Sounds like a very dangerous chemical indeed. It's actually H2O, but if you're not of a scientific mind this site will get you every time.

Save the Tree Octopus
Very well put together site and perfectly believable.

RYT Hospital
Well put together website, linking into a number of other spoof sites, and from a quick view looks entirely bono fide.

The Ova Prima Foundation
This site has scientific 'proof' that the egg came first. Very well done, with todays date, various sections and very academic looking.

Hetracil
Commercial site supposedly selling Hetracil as an 'anti-effeminant' drug. The FAQ is particularly well done.

The Centaur Excavations
Very well done, with photographs, created in a good academic style with an .edu domain. Actually explaining a hoax, but from a quick look it's easy to be fooled.

Male Pregnancy
Another of the RYT linked sites.

Commercial

Microsoft Firefox 2007 Professional Edition
Very clever, and very credible. It's necessary to really dig into the site to see that it's not actually real.

Floral Sculpture Clinic
This is close to be entirely possible. The site offers to sell you items that can be inserted under the skin and onto the bone to create sculpture under the skin. It's another of those 'probably not true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was' sites.

Petrol Direct
Buy your petrol direct and have it delivered. It sounds like a sensible deal.

Telco Powered Products
A range of products that are powered by the electricity you get from the telephone point. Sounds credible, although the site design isn't that professional, but it's good enough.

Dehydrated water
A commercial website selling dehydrated water. Very well put together.

MonkeyFilter

Curious George: Fake Websites Like This One? A university professor, looks for fake websites that he can use in his classroom.