Transcript Website Evaluations - The Bronx High School of Science

Research Literacy ~
Website Evaluation
DO NOW:
Write down your response to the following
questions (in full sentences):
(1) What does it mean to “evaluate” websites?
(2) What is your current method of evaluating
websites when you do research?
AIM:
How can we identify and
evaluate a reliable website?
Wading Through the Web
Compare and contrast the Internet and books/texts.
How do they differ? How are they similar?
Internet
Books/Text
•Anyone can publish a Web
page
•No one checks to see if the
information is true or false
•There are millions of places
to look for information
•Using the Internet is much
quicker
•You can narrow down what
you’re looking for more easily
•The Internet uses search
engines
•A book has to be published
by a publishing company
•Both provide sources
of information
•Editors check and verify the
information
•Looking for a book can be
•Both are viewed by
millions of people each more time consuming
day
•You have to visit a library
•The library uses the Dewey
Decimal System
URL: (Uniform Resource Locator)
The address identifying a specific site on the Internet.
In the address http://www.northwesternuniversity.edu,
http:// designates the TCP/IP protocol used to access the resource
(the Hypertext Transfer Protocol, that is, the language used in
accessing the address on the world wide web (www.)
(.northwesternuniversity) represents the name of the institution or
organization hosting the site
(.edu) is a top level domain code indicating type of entity serving as
network host.
For the United States, the six basic top
level domain codes are:
.com - commercial enterprise
.edu - educational institution
.gov - government agency
.mil - military installation
.net - network
.org - nonprofit organization
Remember these!
http://pubweb.northwestern.edu/~butz/di/intor.html
Cont.
What does the URL tell us?
http://pubweb.northwestern.edu/~butz/di/intro.html
~
Tilde (the “squiggle thingy”): specifies a
user’s home directory.
butz is the user name,
~butz is the home directory of Arthur Butz
Remember what the tilde indicates!
www.martinlutherking.org
How do we know who created
a website?
Use:
www.easywhois.com
www.alexa.com
Then type in
www.martinlutherking.org
Remember these!
What method do we use to evaluate
websites?
Remember this acronym: REAL
Read the URL
Examine the page using prior knowledge
Author’s Credibility (Authority/Credentials)
Last Updated / Links
Remember this acronym!
How current is your information?
What can you learn about a
webpage by who links into it
To find out who links in to a page, try the link
command [ link: ] in www.altavista.com :
Remember the altavista.com website and why you would use it!
Now it is your turn to practice.
Remember the ‘REAL’ acronym!
Your 4 classroom teams will evaluate
one of these sites:
1. www.viagen.com
2. www.historianofthe future.com
3. www.dhmo.org
4. http://www.phy.ornl.gov/csep/ov/node8.html
Learning Standards
New York City Curriculum Resources
Information Fluency Continuum
Phase: Investigate p. 18
Indicator: Identifies inaccurate and misleading information
New York City Performance Standards
Applied Learning Standard 3a: Gather information to assist in completing project work
Applied Learning Standard 3b: Use information technology to assist in gathering,
organizing, and presenting information
Social Studies.5.d Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques alternative
explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.
Social Studies.5.e. Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and
evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.
Social Studies.5.f Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and
ideas.
Social Studies.6.e. Recognizes sources of bias in data
ELA.3.d. Make informed judgments about TV, radio, film.
Standards
Technology Standards
ISTE National Educational Technology Standard (NETS)
Standard 5: Technology Research tools:
-- Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information
from a variety of sources
-- Students use evaluate and select new information resources and
technological innovations based on the appropriateness to specific tasks