Created by Karen Christensson Adapted by the SAISD Librarians

Hail a R.A.D.C.A.B. A mnemonic acronym for information evaluation initials to help remember how to evaluate a website

Why? Anyone on Internet No qualifications No one checking it Looks may be deceiving Not trustworthy, reliable, truthful

Must R.A.D.C.A.B. All Web Sites

A Process R for Relevancy A for Appropriateness D for Detail A way to grade/evaluate websites You are teacher R for Relevancy A for Appropriateness D for Detail C for Currency A for Authority B for Bias

Is the information relevant to the question I am asking? Can it answer my question or does it have nothing to do with it? Am I on the right track or am I wasting my time?

Is the information suitable to my age and my “core values”, what I know to be right and wrong? Will it help me answer my question? Does it fill the requirements of my teacher?

How much information do I need? Does it cover enough information to answer many of my questions? Does the web site offer extra information with external links, internal search engines, indexes?

When was the information published? When was it last updated?

Who is the author of the information? What are his or her qualifications?

Why was this information written? Was it written to inform me, persuade me, or sell me something?

Where Do You Start? Remember you must R.A.D.C.A.B. it! Start with R Relevancy

Relevancy Requires websites that answer your questions Must form questions that focus on topic Use keywords and search phrases to narrow topic Don’t type in full question

Different levels of information Don’t choose too young or too old You know right from wrong: core values Judge if information makes you feel confused or uneasy

You can make sure it is appropriate. Use databases and teacher-selected web sites for research “Police" own Internet activity “Arrest" (or suddenly stop) a site if "you don't get it" or "feel uneasy" Have "exit strategy" for inappropriate site Alert librarian or teacher if uneasy with website

Quickly scan article for needed information Determine if it has enough facts Any tables of contents/indexes on web site Any external links Any interactive and graphic elements

Table of Contents, External Links, etc.

If there is a date, usually posted at top or bottom of page Is having a copyright date important for this website? Are external links still current and relevant?

Look for Copyright Date

Word “author” comes from authority With whom is the author affiliated? Can you contact the author? How? Where? Can you trust this author for accuracy? Why or why not? Use online library databases Paid subscriptions, reliable, trustworthy

A personal judgment, opinion Look for: Web site mission statement Advertising Type of language: emotional sarcastic opinionated

Domains Give Clues URL Domain Names .com - commercial enterprise .edu – academic site .gov – governmental agency .org – organization, non/profit .net – network service provider .mil – military site ~Name-personal home page

Don't forget to R.A.D.C.A.B.! D for Detail C for Currency For any search engine website R for Relevancy A for Appropriateness D for Detail C for Currency A for Authority B for Bias

The decision is yours!