Evaluating Webpages Barbara Hartings O.E.L.M.A. Conference 20 Oct 2005

The 6 Major Criteria AuthorityAccuracyPurposeObjectivityCurrencyCoverage

1. Authority Who is the author? Who is the author? Is it clear who wrote the information? Is it clear who wrote the information? Are his/her qualifications stated? Are his/her qualifications stated? If the material is copyrighted, is the name of the holder of the copyright given? If the material is copyrighted, is the name of the holder of the copyright given? Who is the sponsor of the webpage? Who is the sponsor of the webpage? Is there a means of checking the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor? Is there a means of checking the legitimacy of the page’s sponsor? Is a phone or postal address given? Is a phone or postal address given? Is there a link to the sponsoring organization? Is there a link to the sponsoring organization?

“Domain” is a major clue Easily distinguishes the authority of a site. Easily distinguishes the authority of a site..com Commerical site or “for profit” site.com Commerical site or “for profit” site.edu Educational organizations.edu Educational organizations.gov/.us Government bodies or agencies.gov/.us Government bodies or agencies.mil U.S. Department of Defense.mil U.S. Department of Defense.net Networks.net Networks.org Non-profit organizations.org Non-profit organizations Personal Endeavor Markers Personal Endeavor Markers ~ ~ % %

2. Accuracy Are sources for any facts listed, so the reader can verify? Are sources for any facts listed, so the reader can verify? Is the information properly written? Is the information properly written? Correct spelling. Correct spelling. Proper grammar. Proper grammar. Correct punctuation. Correct punctuation. Proper terminology. Proper terminology. Understandable graphs, charts, timelines, etc. Understandable graphs, charts, timelines, etc. Logically-sequenced information? Logically-sequenced information?

3. Purpose What is the reason for the existence of the webpage? What is the reason for the existence of the webpage? Merchandizing Merchandizing Education Education Information Information business business government government Entertainment Entertainment

4. Objectivity Is the information provided as a public service? Is the information provided as a public service? Is the information free of advertising? Is the information free of advertising? If there is advertising, is it clearly differentiated from the information contained on the page? If there is advertising, is it clearly differentiated from the information contained on the page? Is the information presented without bias or agenda? Is the information presented without bias or agenda?

5. Currency Are dates provided to indicate: Are dates provided to indicate: a. when the page was first written. a. when the page was first written. b. when the page was last updated. b. when the page was last updated. Are there other indications that the page Are there other indications that the page is kept current and material up to date? If graphs, charts, timelines, etc. are If graphs, charts, timelines, etc. are presented, is it clearly stated when the presented, is it clearly stated when the data was gathered? data was gathered?

6. Coverage Is the page complete, or still under construction? Is the page complete, or still under construction? If the information on the webpage is from a print source, is there reference to that source? If the information on the webpage is from a print source, is there reference to that source? Was the entire work utilized in the construction of the webpage? Was the entire work utilized in the construction of the webpage? If only parts of the written work were used, are they cited? If only parts of the written work were used, are they cited? If the webpage is from a work which is out of copyright, have there been efforts made to update the material to make it more current? If the webpage is from a work which is out of copyright, have there been efforts made to update the material to make it more current?

Looks great, but this is a dead website!

There are lots of great resources available…from UC, Berkeley

or UCLA

Or, check ERIC…

Some Great Resources Check out these schools for great website evaluation models, resources, and information: Check out these schools for great website evaluation models, resources, and information: Cornell University Cornell University Widener University Widener University Syracuse University Syracuse University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley Victoria, University of Wellington Victoria, University of Wellington

T.E.A.C.H. Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act) was passed into law in November The TEACH Act allows faculty to use copyrighted works in digital teaching materials both for students enrolled in traditional classroom settings as well as for distance learning courses. In order to use materials that qualify under the TEACH Act, the following conditions must be satisfied: The Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act) was passed into law in November The TEACH Act allows faculty to use copyrighted works in digital teaching materials both for students enrolled in traditional classroom settings as well as for distance learning courses. In order to use materials that qualify under the TEACH Act, the following conditions must be satisfied: The material must be provided at the direction of or under the supervision of a faculty member and must be an integral part of the curriculum. The material must be provided at the direction of or under the supervision of a faculty member and must be an integral part of the curriculum. The amount of material provided must be comparable to that allowed under the fair use doctrine for live classroom session (e.g., short poems or essays, or photographic images). The amount of material provided must be comparable to that allowed under the fair use doctrine for live classroom session (e.g., short poems or essays, or photographic images). Notice must be provided to students that the use of materials may be subject to copyright protection. Notice must be provided to students that the use of materials may be subject to copyright protection. The materials available to students can only be available for a “limited duration” (no longer than a class session). The materials available to students can only be available for a “limited duration” (no longer than a class session).

Webliography “ Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act.” Ithaca College Policy Manual. 16 Oct Online: attorney/policies/vol2/Volume_2-232.htm. attorney/policies/vol2/Volume_2-232.htmhttp:// attorney/policies/vol2/Volume_2-232.htm Alexander, Jan and Marsha Tate. “Original Web Evaluation Materials.” 21 Sept Libraries/ Wolfgram_Memorial_Library/Evaluate_Web_Pages/Original_Web_ Libraries/ Wolfgram_Memorial_Library/Evaluate_Web_Pages/Original_Web_ Libraries/ Wolfgram_Memorial_Library/Evaluate_Web_Pages/Original_Web_ Evaluation_Materials/6160/Evaluation_Materials/6160/. Evaluation_Materials/6160/ Barker, Joe. “Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask.” 21 September Online: Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html. Guides/Internet/Evaluate.htmlhttp:// Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html Beck, Susan E. “Evaluation Criteria.” 21 September Online: instruction/evalcrit.html. “Evaluating Information Found on the Internet.” 17 Feb Online: “Evaluating Internet Sources.” 16 Oct Online: Refernce/InternetSubjects.asp. Refernce/InternetSubjects.asphttp://library.ucf.edu/ Refernce/InternetSubjects.asp “Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial.” 17 Feb Online:

Webliography, continued “Guide to Effective Searching of the Internet.” 21 September Online: search/index.asp. search/index.aspwww.brightplanet.com/deepcontent/tutorials/ search/index.asp Henderson, John R. “True but Little Known Facts About Women and AIDS.” 16 October Online: library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm. library/research/AIDSFACTS.htmhttp:// / library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm “How Does Your Website Measure Up?” 15 October Online: “How Does Your Website Measure Up?” 15 October Online: “Internet Detective.” 5 March Online: desire/teachers.html. desire/teachers.html desire/teachers.html Ormondroyd, Joan, Michael Engle and Tony Cosgrave. “Critically Analyzing Information Sources.” 5 March Online: ref/research/skill26.htm. ref/research/skill26.htm ref/research/skill26.htm Payton, Tammy. “Web Evaluation for Secondary Grades.” 16 Oct Online:

Webliography, continued Peterson-Lugo, Billie. “Library Instruction Tutorials.” 5 March Online: Small, Ruth V. and Marilyn P. Arnone. “Evaluating Web Sites: A Critical Information Skill.” 5 March Online: ericdocs2/ content_storage_01/ b/80/10/a5/4e.pdf. __________. “Website Motivational Analysis Checklist Senior.” 15 October Online: literacy.syr.edu/resources/ WebMAC% 20Sr.%204.0.doc. literacy.syr.edu/resources/ literacy.syr.edu/resources/ Smith, Alastair. “Criteria for Evaluation of Internet Information Resources.” 15 October Online:

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