1. Website Assessment TEC 509 - July 2008 By: Randy Allen Monica Flores Mary Gore Kimberly Powell

2. Evaluation Criteria Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage

3. Criterion #1: Accuracy Is the information reliable and error-free? Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?

4. Website Accuracy Almost anyone can publish on the Web. Many Web resources are not verified by editors. Web standards do not exist to ensure accuracy

5. Criterion #2: Authority Is there an author? Is the author qualified? Is the publisher of the page reputable? Qualifications

6. Website Authority It is often hard to determine the author of a web page. Qualifications are frequently missing. The publisher is not always indicated.

7. Criterion #3: Objectivity Does the information show a minimum of bias? Does the page try to sway the audience’s opinion? Is there any advertising on the page? WEB SOAP WEB SOAP

8. Website Objectivity Goals of the author are not clearly stated. The Web often serves as a virtual soapbox.

9. Criterion #4: Currency Is the content up-to- date? Is the publication date clearly indicated? 2008

10. Website Currency Dates are not always included on Web pages. Dates may have different meanings. It may indicate when the material was first written. It may indicate when the material was first placed on the Web. It may indicate when the material was last revised.

11. Criterion #5: Coverage What topics are covered? What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere? How in-depth is the material? = ?

12. Website Coverage Web coverage may be different from print coverage. It can be difficult to determine the extent of Web coverage. The page may or may not include links to other web pages or print references.

13. Evaluate Actual Web Pages 1. Accuracy 2. Authority 3. Objectivity 4. Currency 5. Coverage World Wide Web

14. Now it’s your turn... How good are these websites? FROGDANCE http://www.darsbydesign.com/sp udfrog/http://www.darsbydesign.com/sp udfrog/ Exploratorium: Frogs http://www.exploratorium.edu/fro gs/index.htmlhttp://www.exploratorium.edu/fro gs/index.html Michele’s Frog Page http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/fr og.htmhttp://michelesworld.net/Frogs/fr og.htm

15. FROGDANCE

16. FROGDANCE Rubric

17. FROGDANCE - Accuracy? There is no information to be reliable or checked. This site appears to be just for fun and not educational.

18. FROGDANCE - Author? The author listed on the page is fictional. The author on the main page does not give any information to show qualifications.

19. FROGDANCE - Objectivity? The information makes the frogs look like silly cartoon characters. Again, this site seems to be just for fun and not educational.

20. FROGDANCE - Currency? There is no date on any of the pages.

21. FROGDANCE - Coverage? The page only shows fictional frogs dancing. This site does not have any facts about frogs just games and activities with them.

22. FROGDANCE FROGDANCE is not an educational site. It is a site that you might visit just for entertainment.

23. Exploratorium: Frogs

25. Exploratorium: Frogs - Accuracy? The information is concrete. It is factual. There is a reliable information that can be used for teaching or reports.

26. Exploratorium: Frogs - Authority? The page is well represented. The authors are listed on a separate page, with credit to what or who they represent.

27. Exploratorium: Frogs - Objectivity? This site serves a purpose - to learn about frogs with factual information. It gives information about habitats, types of frogs, and locations. The graphics are real pictures of frogs.

28. Exploratorium: Frogs - Currency? The date is indicated. The information is true but has not been updated since 1999.

29. Exploratorium: Frogs - Coverage? This site covers information about frogs. There are stories and videos that we could not find in the newspaper. The information is factual and can be backed up.

30. Michele’s Frog Page

31. Michele’s Frog Page - Rubric

32. Michele’s Frog Page - Accuracy? The information is reliable and error-free. This site does have an individual who checks the information.

33. Michele’s Frog Page - Authority? The author is listed for this page. The publisher is reputable.

34. Michele’s Frog Page - Objectivity? The information is biased. However, it does not try to sway the audience’s opinion. There is no advertising on the web page.

35. Michele’s Frog Page - Currency? The information has not been updated recently. The publication date is indicated on the home page.

36. Michele’s Frog Page - Coverage? The information is mainly about frog collectibles. Some of the artwork and postcard pictures are unique. The information is not in-depth.

37. Bibliography Beck, Susan E. (2008, April 3). Evaluation Criteria from "The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources". Retrieved July 16, 2008, from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly or Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources Web site: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html Dar, FROGDANCE. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from All the Frogs on the Site - Dar's By Design Web site: http://www.darsbydesign.com/spudfrog/ http://www.darsbydesign.com/spudfrog/ Spadaccini, Jim (1999). Exploratorium: Frogs. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Exploratorium: the museum of science, art, and human perception Web site: http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html Maki, Michele (2007, December 5). Michele’s Frog Page. Retrieved July 19, 2008, from Michele Maki’s Home Page Web site: http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htmhttp://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htm