Evaluating Web Sites

By Ria Mastromatteo, Educational Technology Consultant ()

People prefer paper bags at the grocery store, says the National Paper Council. The Holocaust never happened, reported an engineering professor at a popular university. The Velcro crop in California was devastated by a storm.

If you were surfing the Internet and found the "valuable" information above, of course, you would realize that there is a bias in the first example, a lie in the second and a fantasy in the third. But would your students be aware of this? It's really important in fact, crucial that students be able to determine "the good, the bad and the ugly" information they have found on the web. Of course, the next question is, "How is this accomplished?"

Students need to ask the following questions when they want to use information from the web:

1. What type of site is this? If the domain name is .com, it's a commercial site and there could be a vested interest in presenting information on products in a good light. Other domains include .org (non-profit organizations); .edu (colleges and universities); .gov (government); .net (network providers); .mil (military); and many more. The .edu sites are generally dependable, but the Holocaust story was found on an .edu site, so students must be cautious.

There might also be a country code in the URL, like .uk, which stands for United Kingdom. These sites will give information based upon the point of view the writer(s) has as a resident of that country. That influence should be taken into account.

2. Who is the author? If an author's name is given, is it possible to find out more information about him/her? Is the author affiliated with a reputable institution? Are the facts verifiable? Are spelling and grammar correct? If the author is careless about this, he/she may be careless about the information in the article.

3. When was the site updated? Many sites indicate the last time the site was updated. If so, students should check the date and make sure information is current. The update is generally listed at the bottom of the page.

4. Does the information on the site confirm other available information? That is, can the claims at this site be corroborated by other sources?

After students consider these questions, they must look at the information and determine if the material answers the question that they are asking. If not, "Search on!"

For more information on web site evaluation, you'll find these sites useful:

WebQuest on Evaluating Web Sites This WebQuest gives a step-by-step procedure for students in grades 9-12 to use to evaluate sites in one of four topics. Go to http://mciu.org/~spjvweb/evalwebstu.html.

QUICK: The Quality Information Checklist This is a colorful tutorial for middle and intermediate students that offers eight ways to check information on web sites. Visit http://www.quick.org.uk/menu.htm.

Evaluation Rubrics for Web Sites Rubrics for primary, intermediate and secondary students are provided so that they can look at specific items and evaluate the site. Check out http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/edu/evaltr.htm.

The ABCs of Web Site Evaluation Kathy Schrock has developed an excellent site and handouts at http://kathyschrock.com/abceval/index.htm.