1. EVALUATING WEBSITES How To Find And Use Information On The Internet LSC 524 Rosanne Beaudoin

2. What To Keep In Mind As You Search…

3. Anyone can publish anything on the web.

4. What To Keep In Mind As You Search… Anyone can publish anything on the web. All websites are not created equal.

5. What To Keep In Mind As You Search… Anyone can publish anything on the web. All websites are not created equal. There is more to a good search than clicking on the first website on your search results!

6. First step in finding a suitable website???

7. Search effectively!

8. Use the right keywords, and enough keywords:

9. Use the right keywords, and enough keywords: Saturn and planet, not just Saturn.

10. Use the right keywords, and enough keywords: Saturn and planet, not just Saturn. Eoin Colfer biography, not just Eoin Colfer.

11. Use the right keywords, and enough keywords: Saturn and planet, not just Saturn. Eoin Colfer biography, not just Eoin Colfer. “crime prevention“, not crime prevention.

12. Second step in finding a suitable website???

13. Look at your search results before you start clicking away!

14. Third step in finding a suitable website???

15. Ask Questions!

16. Authority - Is there an author? - Is the author qualified? - Is the sponsor of the page reputable?

17. .gov,.mil,.us : government sites.edu - educational site.org - non-profit organization.com - commercial site

18. Accuracy - Does the information appear to be error-free? - Does the website offer footnotes or links?

19. Objectivity - Does the website offer unbiased information, or is the page designed to sway your opinion? - Is there any advertising on the page?

20. Currency - Is the webpage dated? - When was the last update? - Do the links still work?

21. Coverage - Is what is offered on the website what you are looking for? - Is this as good a resource as can be found?

22. Alternatives to Googling?

23. Use the websites recommended by your teacher or librarian.

24. Alternatives to Googling? Use the databases available through your local library.

25. What about Wikipedia??? Not a “bad” website Not the best choice for a research paper.

26. To Find a Good Website… Search effectively. Ask questions: Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Currency, Coverage Ask your teacher or librarian.

27. Happy Searching!

28. Bibliography Terdiman, D. (2007). Growing Pains for Wikipedia, C/NET News.com, http://www.news.com/Growing-pains-for- wikipedia/2100-1025-3-5981119.htmlhttp://www.news.com/Growing-pains-for- wikipedia/2100-1025-3-5981119.html Beck, S. (2007). The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: or Why it’s a Good Idea to Evaulate Web Sources, http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.htmlhttp://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html Dalton, B.and Grisham, D. (2001). Teaching Students to Evaluate Internet Information Critically, Reading Online, http://www.readingonline.org/editorial/edit- index.asp?HREP=/editorial/december2001/index.html http://www.readingonline.org/editorial/edit- index.asp?HREP=/editorial/december2001/index.html YALSA, (2006) Find Good Websites Fast,www.ala.org/YALSA