r u 4 r.e.a.l? strategy for website evaluation
TRANSCRIPT
R U 4 R.E.A.L.?
Strategies for Website Evaluation
Where do you normally go to find information?
Why do we often use the Internet?
Pros Cons
Your goal for today: Learn the R.E.A.L.
strategy to help you effectively evaluate
websites based upon your needs.
Strategy: R.E.A.L.
Read the URL.
Examine the content.
Ask about the author and owner.
Looks at the links.
Read the URL.
• Do you recognize the domain name?
• What is the extension in the domain name?
• Are you on a personal page? (name, ~, %)
Examine the content.• Is the information on the website useful for your topic?
• Are additional resources and links provided? Do the links work?
• Is the site current? Do you know when it was last updated?
• Do you think the information is accurate?
• Does the information contradict information you have found elsewhere?
Ask about the author and owner.• Is the author's name provided?
• Is there a contact person, an address, or e-mail address provided?
• Is there any biographical information provided about the author?
• Does the author seem knowledgeable? Is her or she an expert in the field?
• What kinds of results do you see when you do a search on the author's name?
Looks at the links.Forward Links - links from your website to a page on another website (hover over the link with your cursor to find out the URL; example)
• What are the URLs of the forward links?• Do the domain names change? If not, the information may be biased?
Backward Links - links from another website to pages on your site (use the link: command in Google, i.e. link:www.martinlutherking.org; if it doesn't work, try shortening the web address)
• Who is linked to the Web site?• Why are they linked?• What do other sites say about the material on the site?
Activity: What’s happening to honey bees?
Find the BEST possible resources for a hypothetical project about the dwindling population of honey bees. Evaluate the websites listed on your handout to determine the “best”. Be prepared to explain your choice.
Upton, Nick. Honey Bee Heavily Laden with Pollen. N.d. Nature Picture Library, Bristol, United Kingdom. Honey Bee Videos, Photos and Facts. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.arkive.org/honey-bee/apis-mellifera/>.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_bee
URL
Content
Author/Owner
Links
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/honeybee
URL
Content
Author/Owner
Links
ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?docid=15572
URL
Content
Author/Owner
Links
Did you meet your goal for today?
Learn the R.E.A.L. strategy to help you effectively evaluate
websites based upon your needs.
Resources
Guinan, Paul. "HISTORY OF ROBOTS IN THE VICTORIAN ERA." HISTORY OF ROBOTS IN THE VICTORIAN ERA. N.p., 2011.
November, Alan. "3 Websites to Validate." November Learning. November Learning, 24 Mar.
November, Alan C. Web Literacy for Educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, 2008. Print.
Ohlone Library. "Website Evaluation." YouTube. YouTube, 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Way, Tom. "Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - Dihydrogen Monoxide Info." Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division - Dihydrogen Monoxide Info. United States Environmental Assessment Center, 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Zapato, Lyle. "Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus." Save The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus. Kelvinic University Branch of the Wild Haggis Conservation Society, 4 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 Apr. 2014. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.