1. EVALUATING WEB BASED INFORMATION
A Workshop for Teachers
December 2009

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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 <

5. 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.

6. 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?

7. 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?

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

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

10. 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?

11. 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

12. 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)