Website Evaluation

1
Website Evaluation

• Top 8 Indicators Tools

T. Grafton, 2007
2
Objective

• Students will learn how to evaluate websites by
  applying criteria and utilizing website
  validation tools.

3
Authority

• Anyone can publish anything on the WWW
• Authority comes from the credentials or expertise
  of the author, editor or institution
• Education
• Years of experience
• Reputation

4
Purpose

• Ulterior Motive?
• Educate?
• Inform?
• Explain?
• Persuade?
• Entertain?

5
Accuracy

• Do the facts make sense?
• Spelling mistakes?
• Grammar mistakes?
• Who verifies the information?

6
References (Bibliography)

• Information without documentation is not much
  better than just expressing an opinion or point
  of view.

7
Currency

• Last updated?
• Time sensitive
• Technology
• Science
• News
• Research

8
URL

• What is the domain extension?
• .edu
• .com
• .net
• .gov
• .uk
• .org
• .mil

9
External Hyperlinks

• Do the hyperlinks work?
• Where do the hyperlinks send the viewer?
• Are the links reputable?

10
Design, Organization, Ease of Use

• Balance of text and pictures?
• Pop-up Ads?
• Navigational buttons
• Easy to locate information?

11
Tools for Validation

• www.archive.org
• www.easywhois.com
• www.altavista.com
• tiger.towson.edu/tgraft1/writing/top10.htm

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More Links

• http//zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/
• http//learntech.ties.k12.mn.us/Information_Litera
  cy.html
• http//dmoz.org/Reference/Education/Instructional_
  Technology/Evaluation/Web_Site_Evaluation/Hoax_Sit
  es/