1. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Sourcing & Evaluating Information on the Web

2. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Compiling a set of online resources Other careers info site Other careers info site Hard copy files Hard copy files Prospects Occupational Profiles Prospects Occupational Profiles Prospects Special Interest booklets Prospects Special Interest booklets Requests to add links Requests to add links Advisers and other stakeholders Advisers and other stakeholders Research – Google, etc Research – Google, etc

3. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Evaluating Online Information

4. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Physical Resources How do we know whether they are reliable? How do we know whether they are reliable? How can we check? How can we check? Do we / can we make assumptions about the quality of paper-based information? Do we / can we make assumptions about the quality of paper-based information?

5. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content What’s different about the Web? Anyone, anywhere can publish anything Anyone, anywhere can publish anything There is little control over what can be published There is little control over what can be published Things are not always what they seem Things are not always what they seem Plethora of information Plethora of information

6. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content What are the factors we need to consider in evaluating information? Purpose Purpose Author Author Content Content Coverage Coverage Currency Currency Recognition Recognition Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

7. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Purpose Determine whether the main purpose of the site is to inform or to persuade (advocate for a cause). Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

8. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Author The best sites are produced by those who have appropriate education, training, or experience to write with authority on the topic. Check site documents or external sources to find out more about the author. Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

9. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Content Consider whether content seems biased. Does the author have a "vested interest" in the topic? Look for documentation of claims and a balanced point of view. Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

10. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Coverage Shop around for the best source. You can compare the page to others on the same topic to see which provides better coverage. Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

11. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Currency If you are looking for the most current information on a topic, be sure to determine when information was added. Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

12. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content Recognition Try to determine whether the site has been recognized as exemplary, either in reviews or by others linking to it. Source: Net.TUTOR http://gateway.lib.ohio-state.edu/tutor/

13. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content A note about Domain Parks Sometimes a web address will cease be owned by an organisation and may be purchased by another party and held in a domain park to generate marketing revenue. Often the site will contain content that resembles that of the original owner Sometimes a web address will cease be owned by an organisation and may be purchased by another party and held in a domain park to generate marketing revenue. Often the site will contain content that resembles that of the original owner Sometimes an address may end in (for example).org but the same address (held in a domain park) with (for example) a.com ending will contain marketing content that resembles the content of the.org Sometimes an address may end in (for example).org but the same address (held in a domain park) with (for example) a.com ending will contain marketing content that resembles the content of the.org So… it is good practice to check that your links are actually going to where you intended. So… it is good practice to check that your links are actually going to where you intended.

14. AGCAS Careers Information and Employer Liaison Conference 2008 Managing Electronic Content net.TUTOR Ohio State University http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/ Click Evaluating Web Sites