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#1903. Evaluating Web Sites

Computer, level: Senior
Posted Wed Aug 9 10:41:14 PDT 2000 by Carolyn Cowell, Cindy Millett, Linda Tibben, Dave Waskow (cowellden@aol.com).
Expo High School, Waterloo, USA
Materials Required: PC and Internet access
Activity Time: 2-3 fifty minute periods
Concepts Taught: Understanding and Evaluation Sites

yInternet 101: Using the Internet to Support Teaching and Learning: Final Project

Task
Your task for the final project is to create a student centered learning activity using the Instructional Framework to connect curriculum, best practice, and the Internet to enhance student learning. Use the following format to create your project

Title: Web site Evaluation/Reference Guide

Subject Matter Emphasis and Level:
Evaluating web sites by using graphic organizers and a reference guide. This is intended for grades 8-adult learners.

Brief Description of the lesson:
Provide students with information on web site evaluation, give guided practice and then provide activities to apply their knowledge using the checklist for evaluation.

Why Do This?
The general standard addressed is appropriate use of the Internet for research.
Students will become life long learners? This mission statement is It is one of our Technology Benchmarks
Correctly evaluating web sites provides students with tools to better validate and qualify information for research purposes and apply knowledge to their final projects.

Content
The critical object to be taught in this lesson is to better use the Internet for research projects.
Students will be limited in selecting content until they have demonstrated proficiency in manipulating the Internet. At that time they will have the opportunity to choose sites that interest them and by applying the checklist determine the site’s worth to their project (s).
This learning content can be used in any classroom where content research is done using the internet.
Students will need a working technology-focused vocabulary, they will need to have basic skills in keyboarding, and a beginner’s knowledge of the Internet.
Concepts that may prove difficult for students may be:
Not everything a person reads on the Internet is true
The importance of evaluating the information in a site is paramount in the
research process.
The lesson addresses these by beginning with graphics that define web site definitions, along with examples of various web sites.

Assessment
Assessment will occur throughout instruction by teacher observation, student demonstration, and a written final product.
The teacher will guide the student to assess themselves by providing written steps in the reference guide and by providing time for small group discussion or reflection.

Teaching Strategies
Students will best learn content through hands on experience, guided practice, reflection, and review
Students will discover concepts through interacting with various web sites throughout the world.
The lesson will teach students to analyze and evaluate a variety of sources and look for the possibility of bias.

Materials and Resources
Popular magazines may be brought in to use as comparisons to demonstrate purpose in another text site.
Our technical resources are the Internet Websites, and Inspiration.

Management
After the group is introduced to the concepts the students will be work with partners or independently as their technical skills allow.
The classroom is equipped with sixteen desktop computers which will be networked soon so the students will be at their computer work stations.
Students who need additional help may be teamed up with a peer tutor and/or seated close to the instructor for quick access? Time to process the material will be provided
Special education/resource instructors may be called on to assist with special needs students. Our teachers are flexible and willing to assist.

Support Services
What help will you need with computer hardware or with software, listservs, e-mail, the Internet, or other technology applications? Internet/LCD projector?
What other help will you need, such as a special education teacher, to advise or assist you with special students? Would need help from special education/resource teacher.
What other needs do you have to ensure that this is a successful learning experience for students?

Introduction and Use of Check List in Evaluating Web Sites
Grade Level: 8-Adult

Goals:
1. Appropriate use of Internet for research.

Objectives:
To learn to use the checklist to evaluate web sites.
To be able to use the information in student research.
To be able to apply the information to final project.

Material:
Check List
Guided practice sheets
Graphic organizers
LCD Projector
Computers with Internet connection

Procedure:
Present information and graphic organizer #1 to entire class, then add organizer #2 by using an overhead projector.
Move to the computers either as individuals or in groups of 2 or 3 (depending on the number of computers available) and instruct students to click on the hot link under purpose on graphic organizer #2.
Discuss URL’s on graphic #3, then allow students to click on the hot links.
Next use the guided practice sheet, along with the checklist to practice skill and
follow up with correction and discussion.
Hand out and review the Evaluating Check List as a class so students will be comfortable using it as they continue using the Internet.
Allow time for class discussion on the check list.

Provide time for groups to generate responses to the questions. Then, share group questions and responses with the class.

Assessment: Evaluate through teacher observation, student demonstration, group participation and responses and written final products.

Web Site Evaluation Check List
Questions to answer when evaluating a web site.

What information does the URL give you?
Domains:(Where is it from)
.edu
.org
.k12
.net
.gov
.mil
.com

Does the site cover its topic? Yes No

Can you understand the information presented? Yes No

Is the information up to date? Yes No

Why was the site created? (Its purpose)
Entertain
Commercial
Advocate an idea
Present information

Who is the author of this site?

What makes him/her an expert on this site’s topic?

Evaluating Websites
I. Purpose
A. entertain

B. commercial

C. advocate ideas

D. present information

II. Author
research background

III. Meta-Website
A. examine URLs
1. users

2. ~"tilde"
B. the link command
1. add "link:" and then go on to web address

Evaluating Websites
I. Purpose
A. entertain
1. Sports Illistrated Kids Sports Arcdade
http://sikids.com/games/
B. commercial
1. ebay
www.ebay.com
C. advocate ideas
1. GREENPEACE TRUE FOOD NETWORK
www.truefoodnow.org/
D. present information
1. weather.com
www.weather.com/
II. Author
A. research background
III. Meta-website
A. examine URLs
1. users

2. ~"tilde"
B. the link command
1. add "link:" and then go on to web address

Evaluating Websites
I. Miscellaneous Thoughts
A. Domain
1. .edu
a. www.ag.iastate.edu
b. education based sites in U.S.
2. .org
a. www.uitedway.org
b. an organization &/or non-profit that may have "bias"
3. .k12.ia.us
a. www.hudson.k12.ia.us
b. K-12 school district & state in U.S.
4. .net
a. www.cfu.net
b. Internet Service Provider
5. .gov
a. lcweb.loc.gov
b. government agency
6. .mil
a. www.af.mil
b. military body
7. .com
a. www.amazon.com
b. commercial or corporation
B.
C. Evaluating Websites -
URLs, Definitions, & Addresses

Activity Sheet

Applying What We Have Learned About Websites:

Remember to use your checklist!

-click on www.ag.iastate.edu/

-go to basics: click on Diversity Programs

-go to George Washington Carver Celebration (click)

-scroll down and click on University’s Carter Web Site

-click on Resources; then click on Related Sites

Pick three of the following to evaluate using your checklist:

http://www.coax.net/people/LWF/carver

http://www.nps.gov/
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~botony/carver

http://www.archives.state.alus/afro/+address

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~savage/divweb2

Reference

Achey Cutts,P. (2000). Five Tips Every Internet User Needs to Know p.2.
Retrieved June 15, 2000 from Educational Services Area Education Agency 7 Education
Agency 7: edtech/classroom/internet5/index.html

Inspiration 6.0 for Macintosh. (1999) Inspiration software, Inc. www.inspiration.com

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