GET “R.E.A.L.” Website Evaluation in 4 easy steps

Not all websites are created equal…

So, before you use a website, R.E.A.L. You need to get

R ead the URL… Look for the owning entity (person, company, or organization) in the website address (URL). Look for the owning entity (person, company, or organization) in the website address (URL). Are they an authority on the subject Are they an authority on the subject Identify the domain : Identify the domain :.gov,.com,.mil,.edu,.org,.net.gov,.com,.mil,.edu,.org,.net Government, commercial, military, education, organization, network Government, commercial, military, education, organization, network

R ead the URL… Are they trying to sell you something? Are they trying to sell you something? Are you on a personal page? Are you on a personal page? Note: an ~ before a name in the URL means that you are on a personal webpage

E xamine the content… Does the site clearly tell where they got their information? Is the site current and updated? Is the site current and updated? (look for a date, often at the bottom of the webpage) (look for a date, often at the bottom of the webpage) Are the facts different from any other source? Are the facts different from any other source?

A sk about the author or owner… Who wrote it? Is there a “contact us” or “about us” link Does the author have any credentials? Are there spelling or grammar errors?

L ook at the links… Are additional links and resources provided? Are additional links and resources provided? Do the links work? Do the links work? Click on the links to other websites. Click on the links to other websites. Are the links credible? Are the links credible?

L ook at the links… Click on the links to other websites. Click on the links to other websites. Are the links credible? Are the links credible? FORWARD LINKS FORWARD LINKS What are the URL’s of the forward links? What are the URL’s of the forward links? Do the domains change? Do the domains change? Is the information biased? Is the information biased?

L ook at the links… BACK LINKS BACK LINKS Who is linked to this website? Who is linked to this website? Why are they linked? Why are they linked? What do other sites say about the information on the site? What do other sites say about the information on the site? Wayback Machine – see the history of a website Wayback Machine – see the history of a website Wayback Machine Wayback Machine

B e a smart and responsible researcher… R.E.A.L.

WORKS CITED November, Alan. Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press Ohlone College Library. “Evaluating Websites or How “Emma” and “Len” Quickly Selected the Best Web Sites and Had Enough Time Left Over to Go For Coffee Before Class.” 23 Nov Online video clip. YouTube. Accessed on 6 Sept Students, Microsoft® Clip Organizer Microsoft Corporation Redmond, Washington. Brandt, Sherry. Get R.E.A.L. adaptation. Argyle: Harpool Middle School Library