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Not all web sites are created equal, and this is
especially true when it comes to selecting
appropriate web sites to use in an instructional
activity. your time, and the time for your students
to interact with a web page is very limited, so you
will want to make sure you are presenting them with
quality materials which will help them understand
the goals and objectives you have identified for
your lesson.
There are numerous tools you can use to
determine a website's instructional value. Most of
these tools include a basic set of criteria which
should be considered. Some have more criteria to
assess than others. As you review each web page
take the time to determine the value of each of
these critical elements:
- Accuracy
Authority
Objectivity
Currency Coverage
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Accuracy
- Has the web page content been checked by
editors or proof readers and is that fact
indicated somewhere? Are there citations or
references listed to check for accuracy?Is the
web site part of a scholarly or academic
organization such as the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics or the Library of
Congress?
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Authority
- Did the person who created or provided the
information have appropriate qualifications? Has
the information been endorsed by an expert in
the field? Is the web site part of a college,
university or other organization known for its
expertise in a particular field?
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Objectivity
- Are the goals & aims of the person(s)
providing content for the web site clearly
stated? Is the content or information presented
fairly or selectively in an unbalanced format?
Is the purpose of the content to inform or to
persuade? Does the site focus on just the
positive or negative?
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Currency
- There is an assumption that all information
on the web is current and up to the minute,
which is not always true. Does the site contain
any dates indicating when the latest changes
were made? Is the web site more like a
“dead site" because there are never any
changes or updates? Is the information contained
on the site time oriented in nature?
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Coverage
- Is the coverage of the topic, in-depth and
complete or is it shallow and superficial? Are
citations and references provided? Are links to
other web sites provided? Are those links more
or less comprehensive?
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This evaluation checklist is stored as a Word
document in your Blackboard course and is a useful
tool for recording notes when you are reviewing a
specific web site for an instructional activity.
Once you have collected the information on this
form, it is easier to complete the actual web site
evaluation tool designed by Kathy Schrock. She has
developed three versions that should include
everything you need to consider.
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URL:
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Comments
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1
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How does the site make
use of the Internet?
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A good site contains a
wealth of information about its subject
matter and makes use of a variety of
Internet resources and multimedia
applications.
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2
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What is the quality of
the related links?
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A good site often
includes links to other dynamic and
relevant sites.
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3
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Is the site well
designed?
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A good site should be
attractive and uncluttered, with clear and
consistent navigation.
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4
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Who is the target
audience?
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A good site gives a
clear indication of its intended audience,
and its language and content are
consistently appropriate for that
audience.
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5
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Does the site support
my curriculum unit?
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A good educational site
provides unique, up-to-date, and
pedagogically-sound resources for in-class
use.
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6
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Who sponsors and
maintains the site? Is the information
reliable?
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A good site is usually
sponsored by a reliable and accessible
organization, is well maintained, and is
updated regularly.
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7
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Are there reviews of
the site? Has it received any awards?
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Many good sites have
been reviewed by Web-wide evaluators who
display their reviews and awards.
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