Gr.+8+Evalating+Web+Sites



This project is designed to explore a set of skills that will allow you to effectively evaluate Internet Web resources. Considering the number of Web resources available to students and the wide range of quality, it is important to learn to evaluate resource materials carefully.

Step 1: Complete the vocabulary worksheet, use [|Yourdictionary.com] or [|Merriam-Webster.com] to research your definitions. Remember you are considering definitions as they relate to web resource evaluation. Step 2: Participate in the class discussion as we review the meaning of the criteria that we will be using to evaluate the websites.

Step 3: Evaluate Five (5) web sites. Mr. Lessig may have your group work in groups of 3 to 5 or you may be working independently. Choose five (5) of the following web sites.

[|Americans for Non-Smokers Rights] [|R.J. Reynolds] [|Tobacco Free Initative] [|Forces International] [|Center for Interdisciplinary Research of Nicotine Addiction] [|Save the Children]

Step 4: >  > Evaluation Criteria
 * Group project: Your group will be responsible for looking at Five (5) web sites concerning smoking and tobacco from the Four (4) different "Evaluating Web Sites" perspectives (criteria). Each group will have one student on the computer accessing the websites and one student acting as a scribe recording the groups answers to the criteria questions. Strengths and Weaknesses, the answers to the criteria questions will be recorded on the "Evaluation Worksheet". After all 5 websites have been reviewed and the questions answered then the group should rank them with a score of 1 to 5. 1 being the best and 5 the worst. After ranking them the group should then defend their first choice in narrative form (4 sentences) regarding why they chose the website as the best for that criteria. For example, "Our group chose the World Health Organization website as the best for content because it covered the topic of smoking comprehensively." After all four criteria area worksheets are completed the class will discuss the various groups impressions.To finish the project students will be divided into groups of two and each student will complete a Glogster to present their reflections of the importance of evaluating websites. 

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">1.) Content Criteria: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Does the site cover the topic comprehensively? Accurately?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Can you understand what is being said? Is it written above or below your level of understanding?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Currency: Can you tell the date the information was created? the publication date? the date the material was last revise? Are these dates meaningful in terms of the subject matter?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Would you get better information in a book an encyclopedia?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Are the links well-chosen? Sufficient?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">2.) Authority/Credibility Criteria: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Who is responsible for this site? Who sponsors it? Hint: truncate each section of the URL back until you are able to find the sponsor.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">What are his/her credentials?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Have the authors of the site cited their own sources?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">What is the domain name? Does it end in .com, .gov, .edu? Is that a meaningful clue in evaluating the site? (You can't always judge a web page by its suffix. Some commercial sites provide solid information. Some university sites offer less-than serious personal pages to graduate students.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Who else links to the site? ( You can perform a link check in AltaVista or Google by entering "link-webaddress" in the search box. Is it linked to reliable sites?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">3.) Bias /Purpose Criteria: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Why was this website created? (to persuade, inform, explain, sell, promote, parody, other?)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is it personal, commercial, government or organization site?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is there any bias?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is only one side of the argument presented?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Does it appear that nay information is purposely omitted?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is there a hidden message?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is it trying to persuade you or change your opinion? Is the bias useful to you in some way?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Can you distinguish fact from opinion?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">4.) Usability/design Criteria: **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is the site easy to navigate (user-friendly)?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is the a well-labeled contents area?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do all of the design elements (graphics, art, buttons, et.) enhance the message of the site?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Is there consistency in the basic formats of each page?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Are there any errors in spelling or grammar?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do the pages appear clean, uncluttered?
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Do the links on the site work?

Click on<span class="wiki_link_ext"> to learn the exact steps to take. Complete the <span class="wiki_link_ext"> with strengths and weaknesses, remember to write two to three complete sentences defending your decision. Step 5 Choose three or four additional specialist areas and complete charts.

Graphic available online at www.googleimages.com