Evaluation Criteria for Students presented by Budgie Latshaw and Eric Englert Professional Development Center

Why Evaluate Web Pages? Web is vast – easy access – good, bad and mediocre An open forum for publication – no filtering process of editors – minutes to go from someones head to the Web Know what to look for – Put on your skeptics glasses

Evaluation Categories Content – quantity and quality Credibility – expertise and objectivity Design – aesthetic and technical

Content Accuracy – valid information? Completeness – adequate coverage? Currency – dated material? Readability – flow, grammar, spelling? – age appropriate? Uniqueness – just more of the same?

Content Accuracy – valid information? Completeness – adequate coverage? Currency – dated material? Curriculum/Instruction – age appropriate, address several learning styles, challenging, engaging, meets standards? Readability – flow, grammar, spelling? Uniqueness – just more of the same?

Credibility Authority – scientist or student? Affiliation – hosted by and linked to? Bias/Objectivity – facts or opinions? fair?

Design Technologies – need unusual plug-ins? Graphics – content support or fluff? Legibility – fonts easy to read? uncluttered? Navigation – easy? different ways? Reliability – there when needed? links working?

Whats in a URL?

Whats in a URL? nccam.nih.gov/

Whats in a URL?

Summary Internet is a vast resource and information can come from any source. Critically evaluate for content, credibility and design. You must become a critic when viewing information online.

Acknowledgements Special thanks to Kenny McCay for her invaluable input!