Finding the site that’s just right! Web Site Evaluation Finding the site that’s just right! Sometimes, jumping onto the Internet is like going to the circus. There are so many things to see and do that we just jump right in before we really think about what we need. While many websites are helpful, some are a waste of time (or even dangerous). Reputable websites share true information, but not everything you read on the Internet is true. How do you know if the site is the right one for your research? Let’s find out together. . .

Why is it important? Does it really matter which site you go to? Does it really matter what website you use? Did you know that other forms of communication have editorial guidelines and restrictions (such as published books, magazines, newspapers, news reports on T.V.), but the Internet has no overarching “checker”. So it it up to the user to do the checking him/herself.

Searching. . . Start with a good search. Don’t Google!! Go to Web Links and Research Links on the School Website. Use kid-friendly sites! The first step in finding a good site is to do a good search. Let’s look at some ways. . .(Picture is hyperlink to Harrison School Website where we would explore some of the weblinks and the sites posted on the Library Homepage)

Criteria Who? What? Where? When? How? Why? Once you’re on a site, use the 5W’s (and one H!)to evaluate a website: Who? What? Where? If we use the same criteria we use in our other classes, we can decide if a website is the right one for us. When? How? Why?

Who? Who created this site? Is there an author or contact information listed? First, figure out who put the web site on the Internet. Is it someone who is qualified (such as students who researched a topic and then put their findings on an original site?) How can you tell? Look on the homepage to see if there is anyone listed. Look for the contact name and if there is any connection to a certain group, organization or school. For example, if the person is a doctor associated with a medical center, it is probably a reliable site for health information. But if it just says “Kathy’s new diet” maybe you better steer clear!

What? Reptiles Mammals Amphibians Birds Dinosaurs Fish Are there pictures or diagrams that can help you understand your subject? Does the content of the site match what you are looking for? Are the things on the website helpful to you? Do you need pictures or maps? Do you need to know how to purchase a product or do you need information about a particular person? Maybe the site is on your topic, but it doesn’t answer the questions you need answer. Look through the contents of the site to see if it has what you need.

Where? Where did you FIND the information? Was it from a kid-friendly website (like SafeSearch or KidsClick?) Where is the information FROM. . . First decide if you got the information from a good search (remember those kid friendly sites? Let’s look at a few more). Then, once you reach a site, look at the URL and see where the site originated. That can give you important clues. Let’s look at the suffixes (the ending letters after the “dots”). . .

Looking at the “dots”. . . . edu .com .org .gov .net .mil “edu” is a site sponsored by an educational institution such as a college or university. “com” means commercial. “org” is a site sponsored by a non-profit organization “gov” is a site sponsored by a government agency “net” is a personal website. Watch out for these, as ANYONE can put ANYTHING on the web! “mil” is a site sponsored by a military organization such.

When? Is there a copyright date shown? How recent is the information? Is it updated on a regular basis? What is your topic? Do you need current information? If you are doing a report on George Washington, you may not need the latest site. But you do if you are studying Space Shuttles. Look for copyright dates and dates showing updates. And remember, even “old” topics become “new” when discoveries are made. For example, there once was a dinosaur who was called “Brontosaurus” for years until new fossils were found and pieced together. Brontosaurus became “Apatosaurus.”

Why? What was the creator’s purpose in putting this on the web? Look for persuasive language. Also use what you know about the “dot” suffixes to determine why the information might be there. **Watch out for “net” attached to other suffixes! Think about the newspaper and its different parts. There are some factual articles but there are also editorials (peoples’ opinions) and ads (trying to persuade you to purchase certain things). The same is true on the web. Notice the contents and see if it is information or persuasion. How can you tell? Check other sources to verify facts (remember, that’s why you need to use multiple sources, including BOOKS)

How? How does it look? Is it easy to navigate? Is it organized? Can you read it? Is the site easy on your eye? Can you find your way around? Can you read and understand it? Who cares if it uses big words? Sometimes the simpler the better!

Putting it all together. . . Evaluating a website is like putting the pieces to a puzzle together. (Remember – who, what, where, when why, how). Don’t just use ANY website. Make sure it’s right for you and what you need! Be a smart “shopper”. Don’t just jump to the first thing you find. First, do a smart search. Then use “who, what where, when, why and how”) to decide if the site is the right one for you!