Becoming a Web Detective Ms. Silag Manchester Essex Regional School District December, 2008 For Learning…For Life!

Today’s Objectives To learn why it is important to become “web detectives” when you are researching on the internet. To learn how to evaluate website sources.

Two Truths One Fib

Why Website Evaluation? Billions of websites out there! Trash vs. treasure Hoax cites California's Velcro Crop Challenged Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie Hunting Season for Haggis Moon development Mankato, MN Uncyclopedia Male pregnancy Biohazard Alert Detector

ABC’s of Website Evaluation A = Author Is there an author? Is the author qualified to write about the subject? Can the information be verified elsewhere? The Joe Bros. B = Bias Is information presented in a fair, objective manner? Is the page free of unnecessary advertising? John McCain John McCain 2 C= Content Is the information relevant, believable and useful for your purposes? Share

More ABC’s…well, D and E! D= Dates Does the webpage show the date when it was created? Last updated? Is it updated regularly? Is the information outdated? E= Editor Does the webpage name an editor or fact checker? Does the webpage have a reputable sponsor such as a university or government agency. Does the webpage include a bibliography?

More Clues… Look at the Internet Address Ending.com = commercial site ( = non profit organization ( = educational site by an educational institution ( = network of organizations ( = military organizations ( = geographically based website ( vs. ( gov = government website ( Truncate the URL Host site: Women’s International Center Webpage: Biography on Jane Goodall

Where Should You Go? Your teacher tells you to create an anti-smoking ad campaign for an assignment on persuasive writing. Using the Web DetectiveWeb Detective WorksheetWorksheet you will each evaluate one of the following sites and determine if you would use it for this project: American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation R.J. Reynolds American Lung Association (Tobacco Control section) Tobacco Free Initiative (World Health Organization) Tobacco Free Kids website Big Drug's Nicotine War Coalition for a Tobacco Free Midlands Children Opposed to Smoking Tobacco MIT Anti Smoking Project

Just Say NO... No internet without adult supervision.

For Learning… Reliable, accurate information is essential to solid research… and good grades!

And For Life… Reliable information is essential to quality of life Did the Twilight author (Stephenie Meyer) really have her next book stolen and posted on the internet?

Sources Springfield Township Virtual Library. Retrieved November 25, CMIS (Curriculum Materials Information Services). Retrieved November 25 from the Department of Education and training, Western Australia. ebeval/eval12.htm Pam Berger’s Web Evaluation Guide. Retrieved November 28, 2008 from theUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators. Retrieved November 28,

What Did You LearnWhat Did You Learn?