EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION

A Workshop for Teachers December 2009

Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology

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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

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Authority and Scope Accuracy and Relevance Up-to-Date

Information literate students are able to

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Access info efficiently and effectively

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Evaluate info critically and competently

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Use info accurately and creatively

Source: American Library Association,

Information Power ”

Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.” (1998)

Teach students to be detectives

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Look for clues

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

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Consider motives

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Trust nobody until you can verify information

Source: Linda Starr. “Fact, Fiction or Opinion: Evaluating Online Information.” Education World

Key Traits - Authority

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Who is the author or sponsoring organization?

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Is the author an expert?

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Is there contact information?

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Can you find more about the sponsoring organization?

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Check the domain name in URL

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.edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .com

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“ ~ “ in address usually means personal web page

Key Traits - Scope

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Is the information fact or opinion?

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Is there evidence of bias?

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Does the web site try to sell?

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Does the web site try to persuade?

Key Traits - Accuracy

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Can you verify the information is reliable?

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Check a print source

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Check other sources

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Are there links to other references or a bibliography?

Key Traits - Relevant

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Is the site useful for your research?

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Would you recommend this web site to others?

Key Traits - Up-to-date

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When was the web site created?

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When was the web site last updated?

Key Traits - Ease of Use

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How is the web site organized?

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Is it easy to navigate around the web site?

Is it searchable by keywords?

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Are there links to other resources?

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Are there graphics?

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Do they load quickly?

Are they labeled clearly?

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Are they easy to view or too cluttered?

Other Web Site Tools

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

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

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

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

Other Web Tools

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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)