Digital Literacy 09: Website Evaluation
The third topic in our Digital Literacy course, website evaluation, examined some basic principles for determining the usefulness of online information:
There are a number of excellent resources available for website evaluation, including those created by Kathy Schrock and Joyce Valenza. To guide our students, we utilize elements of New Mexico State University’s “Evaluation Criteria” as outlined by Susan Beck:
- Authority: Is the author(s) of the site identified and qualified?
- Accuracy: Is the factual information correct and are the sources cited?
- Objectivity: Is the site free from bias or does it try to sway your opinion?
- Currency: Is the content up to date and do all the links work?
- Coverage: Is the information useful, detailed, and in depth?
Although written for a collegiate audience, these five points are applicable and appropriate for middle and upper school students. This simple evaluation form can lead students through these elements:
Although we explored and discussed sites that illustrated each of the five criteria, a “one-time” lesson will not make students competent at web evaluation. To reinforce their skills, students were asked to evaluate this site; does it appear reputable to you?
Web evaluation is a critical, life-long skill that students must master to live in the post-Gutenberg age. If you’d like to help your students become more informed web consumers, Phil Bradley has compiled an excellent (though slightly dated) list of examples to aid in teaching this critical topic. I encourage you to check them out and remember; don’t believe everything you read….
