Evaluating Websites… The truth is out there - but so is the lie..

Why do we need to learn how to evaluate websites? To become people who think critically about the information that they find To find out if we can trust the information from the source To find out if the source is worth using for a research project To become people who think critically about the information that they find To find out if we can trust the information from the source To find out if the source is worth using for a research project

The quality of web resources varies greatly. Free Web –Public access –No cost Free Web –Public access –No cost Deep Web –By paid subscription –Password accessible Deep Web –By paid subscription –Password accessible

Can I trust what I find on the internet? NO rarely subject to any kind of quality control. anyone can publish anything on the Web, whether it be true or false, up to date or out of date, or subject to change (example: Wikipedia). quality, validity and reliability are open to question. rarely subject to any kind of quality control. anyone can publish anything on the Web, whether it be true or false, up to date or out of date, or subject to change (example: Wikipedia). quality, validity and reliability are open to question.

Criteria for evaluating websites: C – Current –(when it was published?) R – Relevant –(is it valuable info?) A – Accurate A – Author –(who wrote it?) P – Purpose C – Current –(when it was published?) R – Relevant –(is it valuable info?) A – Accurate A – Author –(who wrote it?) P – Purpose

It is a student’s responsibility to confirm that every source used is reliable.

Every time you evaluate or look at a website you should go through the test: C.R.A.A.P. Note: This word is only allowed to be used in this class when evaluating a website

C is for Current DATE Is it current? How can you tell if the information is current? Check the ___________________ What to look for: When the resource was originally produced (A publication date) Whether the resource has been updated? (A “last updated” date at the foot of the page)

Prove it R is for Relevant Does it relate to my research? Is it at my reading level?

A is for Accurate Are the facts real? Is the information based on facts? How do you know?

A is for Author Who is the author? Are they an expert? If there is no author, who sponsored the site? (a company, university, organization, e.g. NASA

Author Who wrote it. What to look for: Author's or organization's name Details about how to contact the author An About Us section The author's qualification to write in the topic?

Source What to look for: Is it someone’s personal page? –A tilde (~) usually indicates a personal page within a website Is it a page posted by a student in another school? What type of domain does it come from –.edu educational institutions –.com commercial organizations –.org non-governmental, non-profit organizations What to look for: Is it someone’s personal page? –A tilde (~) usually indicates a personal page within a website Is it a page posted by a student in another school? What type of domain does it come from –.edu educational institutions –.com commercial organizations –.org non-governmental, non-profit organizations Where the resource is from

Problems with author’s not having authority or expertise No expertise necessary to publish on the web. Even when an author’s name is provided, qualifications are not usually given. Sponsorship is difficult to determine. No expertise necessary to publish on the web. Even when an author’s name is provided, qualifications are not usually given. Sponsorship is difficult to determine.

P is for Purpose To persuade? Inform? Entertain? What is the purpose of the website and who is the intended audience? Think P.I.E. P – Persuade. Is it trying to persuade you? I – Inform. Is it trying to inform you? E – Entertain. Is it trying to entertain you?

Purpose What to look for: Who are the intended users of this resource: general readers, students (what level?), specialists, professionals, or researchers? Why was this website created? (remember P.I.E.) Links to related websites are provided.

Always ask yourself: Does it pass the C.R.A.A.P. Test? Why or why not?

Bibliography The IntegrationStation 14 Sept., The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 14 Sept., Internet for English. 14 Sept., Evaluating Internet Resources 14 Sept., Evaluating Web Pages: A WebQuest 14 Sept., html> Gallery of Hoax Websites 14 Sept., What’s the Truth got to do with it? 14 Sept., ages/Slide001.htm> Evaluating Selecting and Citing Web Sources 14 Sept., e/evaluate/evaluate.html> The IntegrationStation 14 Sept., The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. 14 Sept., Internet for English. 14 Sept., Evaluating Internet Resources 14 Sept., Evaluating Web Pages: A WebQuest 14 Sept., html> Gallery of Hoax Websites 14 Sept., What’s the Truth got to do with it? 14 Sept., ages/Slide001.htm> Evaluating Selecting and Citing Web Sources 14 Sept., e/evaluate/evaluate.html>