Domain Names and Website Authority Image from Microsoft Clip Art Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Have you ever noticed the way websites’ URLs (Uniform Resource Locator) end in .com or .org, or .gov? Do you know what these endings indicate? You can get important information about a website, just from the way it is titled. Screenshots from http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids www.usa.gov www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Top Level Domain The letters at the end of a website URL are known as the Top Level Domain. These letters, such as .com, .org, or .gov inform you about the owner or author of a website. Image from Microsoft Clip Art Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland A .gov top level domain lets you know that a government agency owns the website. The Montgomery County website URL is http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov, meaning that a government agency puts content creates and maintains this website. Screenshot taken from www.montgomerycountymd.gov Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland A .org top level domain lets you know that a not for profit agency owns the website. WatchKnowLearn is a .org website that posts free educational videos for teachers and students. Screenshot taken from: www.watchknowlearn.org Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland A .com top level domain lets you know that a commercial or for profit company owns the website. Many websites have a .com top level domain—can you name a few that you have used in school? Image from Microsoft Clip Art Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

More Top Level Domain Names .net— a network, such as Verizon .us—a United States website .ca—a Canadian website .mil—a military website .edu—a college or university website Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012

Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland How can you use the domain name to understand the authority and bias of a website? Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland Curriculum 2.0 - Grade 4 2012