1. Evaluating Web Sites BTT Mr. Garel

2. Evaluating Web Sites not all information found on the World Wide Web is accurate and not all web sites, no matter how attractive, are good. Evaluating a web site is an important activity because …

3. It’s … All About Ongoing Critical Concern AAOCC … Accuracy Authority Objectivity Currency Coverage

4. Accuracy Who wrote the page? Can you contact the author / webmaster? What is the purpose of the document? Is the person qualified to write this document?

5. Accuracy Check for: e-mail address postal address or phone number Know the difference: Author v.s. Webmaster

6. Authority What are the author’s credentials? Where is the document published? Is there institutional affiliation? Check the URL domain for clues: –.edu,.org,.gov,.mil  more reliable –.com,.ca,.on,.au,.uk, etc.  less reliable! Example: http://tqjunior.www.thinkquest.org/4471 http://www.nasa.gov/spaceflight

7. Objectivity What are the goals of the web site? … to persuade … to inform … to entertain … to sell Are the goals met?

8. Objectivity How detailed is the information? –too simple, just right, too complex? What opinions are expressed? Is the information free of bias? Does the site promote advertising?

9. Currency When was it produced? –Look for copyright © information When was the site last updated? Do all the links function? Is the information on the page outdated?

10. Coverage Is there a balance of text and images? Do the links complement the web site’s theme? Is the information cited correctly?

11. Coverage Is special software required to browse the web site? Is there a cost to view the information? Is the site organized well?

12. In Summary: If the site: lists the author and institution that published the web page(s) provides a way to contact the author lists the author’s credentials has a preferred domain (.edu,.gov,.org,.net)

13. In Summary: has limited advertising is objective (unbiased) in presenting information Is current and is updated regularly provides accurate information

14. In Summary: Can be viewed without limitations Then your information source is most likely a reliable and valid one for your research. Has operational and relevant links

15. Remember … Remember … A A O C C It’s All About Ongoing Critical Concern.