Web Site Evaluation

Just because you might find information on the World Wide Web does not mean it is a reliable source for research.

Link to Web Sites to Evaluate

Here are some tips to consider when looking at a Web site with a critical eye:

• Author of the Site

          Whose idea was it?

• Place of Origin

          What country or state does it come from?

• Domain Name

.com – a commercial site

.org – a group or organization

.edu – an academic institution

.gov – a government site

.mil – a military site

.net – a network  

• Purpose

How objective will it be?

Content

          Is it what you need to know and enough of what you need?

Currency

          Is it being updated to reflect current news and trends?

Intended Audience

          To what age or reading level is it aimed?

Organization

          Is the overall look pleasing and logical?

Ease of Navigation

          Correct spelling and grammar

Adopted from Mary Northup’s Web Site Evaluation Checklist published in The Book Report, September/October 2001.

Also consult Kathy Schrock’s ABC’s of Web Site Evaluation http://kathyschrock.net/abceval/

Schrock, a former school library media specialist, is an administrator for technology with Nauset Public Schools in Cape Cod, MA.

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