EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION A Workshop for Teachers December 2009

Teaching Research Skills Using Web-Based Technology Academic research has become technology enabled Information is widely available on Internet Need to critically evaluate this information Students must be taught key evaluation traits Authority and Scope Accuracy and Relevance Up-to-Date

Information literate students are able to: Access info efficiently and effectively Evaluate info critically and competently Use info accurately and creatively Source: American Library Association, Information Power -”Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.” (1998)

Teach students to be detectives Look for clues Ask questions - the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why) Consider motives Trust nobody until you can verify information Source: Linda Starr. “Fact, Fiction or Opinion: Evaluating Online Information.” Education World <http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr194.shtml>

Key Traits - Authority Who is the author or sponsoring organization? Is the author an expert? Is there contact information? Can you find more about the sponsoring organization? Check the domain name in URL .edu, .gov, .mil, .org, .com “ ~ “ in address usually means personal web page Google the author’s name Check Biography index, Who’s Who in America, etc.

Key Traits - Scope Is the information fact or opinion? Is there evidence of bias? Does the web site try to sell? Does the web site try to persuade?

Key Traits - Accuracy Can you verify the information is reliable? Check a print source Check other sources Are there links to other references or a bibliography?

Key Traits - Relevant Is the site useful for your research? Would you recommend this web site to others?

Key Traits - Up-to-date When was the web site created? When was the web site last updated?

Key Traits - Ease of Use How is the web site organized? Is it easy to navigate around the web site? Is it searchable by keywords? Are there links to other resources? Are there graphics? Do they load quickly? Are they labeled clearly? Are they easy to view or too cluttered?

Other Web Site Tools Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators(includes evaluation forms for elementary, middle & high schools, links to articles and other web sites) UC Berkeley Library (“Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask”) Olin and Uris Libraries, Cornell University (“Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages”) Eduscapes - includes lessons, activities, evaluation criteria, links to misleading websites

Other Web Tools November Learning (includes information literacy resources - lessons, quizzes, links to misleading websites including the “Tree Octopus”). Several years ago Alan November was keynote speaker at district staff development day. Librarians Internet Index (well-organized directory for reliable, trustworthy, librarian-selected websites)