Evaluating Websites 

Introduction:

When you use the Internet to gather information, both for school and to pursue your own interests, you need to be an informed consumer.  With millions of websites available to you in just moments, you need to learn how to evaluate your search results and decide which websites will serve you best. 

As no one organization or government regulates the information on Internet we all must READ and EVALUATE the information we find with a critical eye.  Use the RADCAB Rubric to help you focus on how to develop good habits of a website evaluator: http://www.tlu.ee/opmat/in/opiobjekt/infokvaliteet/radcab-rubric.pdf

 

Task:

Work in groups of two to evaluate a series of websites.  Partners will choose one of the four scenarios in which they might come across in a school project.  Keeping in mind your topic and task evaluate the provided websites.  After using the evaluation tool to rate each website arrange the eight sites from most helpful to least helpful for your topic. 

 

When you are finished use the reflection questions to explain why you choose the order that you did.  Make sure you are specific and reference specific websites to help support your answer. 

 

Websites:  Choose one of the four topics below.  Use only these websites for your evaluation.  Evaluations tools can be obtained from Ms. Jankowski.  Use one evaluation tool for each website.  Work together on each. 

 

Dogs: How can we find the best dog breed for our family?

 

http://www.aspca.org/aspcakids/

 

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/abc.htm

 

http://www.akc.org/

 

http://www.cesarsway.com/

 

http://www.dogbiz.com/

 

http://www.eukanuba.com/EukGlobal/US/en/jsp/home/LocalHome.jsp

 

http://www.petfinder.com/before-pet-adoption/before-dog-adoption.html

 

http://animal.discovery.com/breed-selector/dog-breeds.html  

World War II:  What do you think was the most important battle during WWII was and why?

 

http://www.usd230.k12.ks.us/espictt/

 

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/war/battles.html

 

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/children_and_world_war_two.htm

 

http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/airbattle.htm

 

http://www.historyguy.com/normandy_links.html

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/guts/

 

http://www.antonybeevor.com/D-Day/reviews.htm

 

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/mao/selected-works/volume-3/mswv3_10.htm

 

 

Earthquakes-How do I stay safe during an Earthquake?

 

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/index.php?regionID=32

 

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm

 

http://mceer.buffalo.edu/infoservice/reference_services/faqs.asp

 

http://geographyworldonline.com/myquake.html

 

http://www.ceri.memphis.edu/aware/survival.html

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_2325507_stay-safe-during-earthquake.html

 

http://usny.nysed.gov/haiti_info.html

 

http://quakehold.com/

 

Insects-How do humans benefit from insects?

 

http://www.si.edu/encyclopedia_si/nmnh/buginfo/benefits.htm

 

http://insectzoo.msstate.edu/Students/basic.benefits.html

 

http://www.insectidentification.org/helpful_insects.asp

 

http://www.herbs2000.com/articles/08-03-14_repellents.htm 

http://ilonasgarden.com/2007/08/who-are-the-good-bugs/ 

http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entomology.php

 

http://www.rose-roses.com/problems/goodanimals.html

 

http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National-Wildlife/Gardening/Archives/2010/Enticing-Predators-to-Patrol-Your-Garden.aspx

Reflection:  Once you have finished evaluation each website you need to put the sites in order from most helpful to least helpful.

 

Open a Word document and create a two column by nine row Table.

 

Copy and paste the text into a blank Word document table with the most helpful first and least helpful last. 

 

In the second column explain why you put each site in its specific spot.  Be specific and reference the helpful and problematic features of the sites. 

 

Example:

 

http://pbskids.org/zoom/games/goldburgertogo/rubegame.html

This site is very helpful because it lets you practice using simple machines.  It gives illustrations and short understandable facts on how simple machines work.

 

 

Rubric:

 

	4 Pts	3 Pts	2 Pts	1 Pt
Use of evaluation tool	We answered each question thoughtfully and gave answers using specific examples from the website	We answered the questions and sometimes referenced examples from the website.	We answered the questions but did not give any examples.  We also missed some questions and did not take our time.	Missed several questions and did not take our time to thoroughly look at the website.
Ordering of websites	We ordered our websites and reflected on why we choose the order that we did as well as what made the website helpful or what made the website unhelpful using specific examples.	We ordered the websites and gave information on each site.  We used some specific examples to show how we made our choices.	We ordered the websites and provided a description.	We ordered the websites but left out descriptions for them.
My Effort	I worked hard during every class and went above and beyond.	I worked hard during most classes with minimal time wasting.	Sometimes we got off task.	We needed many reminders about staying on task and getting along.
My Partner’s Effort	Worked hard during every class and went above and beyond.	Worked hard during most classes with minimal time wasting.	Sometimes got off task.	Needed many reminders about staying on task and getting along.
Teacher Rated Effort	Worked hard during every class and went above and beyond.	Worked hard during most classes with minimal time wasting.	Sometimes got off task.	Needed many reminders about staying on task and getting along.
Total

Ask question and good luck!