Evaluating Websites

Published on: Author: cxyz

 WALT – WAre Learning To…

  • examine websites for credibility of information,
  • rate websites according to their features,
  • compare results and identify websites with reliable information.

WILF – What I‘m Looking For…

  • is that you can consider the value of a website by considering: its author/s; its host; its purpose; its currency; what sites are associated with it; its relevance to your purpose; its navigation.
  • is that you can evaluate some websites in terms of these aspects.

The Internet

The internet is a global resource that contains instant information from all around the world. It is important to know that there are millions of websites and some information is good and some is incorrect. When looking for information on a website, there are several things you should know. You need to be able to figure out what websites are fine to use for a resource for your information and which are not.

Not only does the information need to be correct but the website needs to be well organised and clear so that you can find your way around it.

Who wrote the site?

  • Look for an About link in the website. Often this is found at the top, bottom or in the sidebar of the webpage. Some pages will have a corporate author rather than a single person as an author.
  • Does the author provide credentials? What type of knowledge and experience does the author have on the subject of the site?  Should you trust this knowledge of the subject?

Who published the site?

Look at the web address (URL) of the website to see who is hosting it. The web address of the OLD School website is: http://www.ourladyofdolours.qld.edu.au

The part of this address which tells you what type of person or group hosts (i.e. has responsibility for) this website is one of these:

  1. .com – this is usually a business
  2. .edu – education
  3. .org – organization or non-profit
  4. .net – a blog or a business
  5. .gov – a government site
Notice that the OLD School website address contains .edu because it belongs to a school.

 What is the main purpose of the web site?

  • To sell a product?
  • As a personal hobby?
  • As a public service?
  • To further scholarship on a topic?
  • To provide general information on a topic?
  • To persuade you of a particular point of view?

How to find out:

  • Scan the homepage of the website. Is it cluttered with advertising?
  • Does the page appear to be professionally designed?
  • Is the writing trying to persuade you to buy something?
  • Who is the intended audience – Learners or the general public?
  • Which age group is it written for?
  • Is it aimed at people from a particular geographic area?
  • Is it aimed at members of a particular profession or with specific training?
  • What is the quality of information?

Currency

  • When was the website first published?
  • When was it last updated? Check for dates at the bottom of each page on the site.
  • Different publication dates will be acceptable depending on what type of information you’re looking for. If you’re looking for statistics, information on current events, or information in fields like science, technology or healthcare, you probably need the most up-to-date information available. If you’re looking for information that doesn’t change, such as Roald Dahl’s date of birth or what is commemorated on ANZAC Day, it may not matter as much if the website is a little older as long as it is produced by a reputable source.

Supporting the Information

  • Does the author list a bibliography?
  • What type of other sites does the website link to?

We all do Together

Task 1
We will all work together to evaluate the OLD School website based on these criteria.
Website Evaluation form 1
Website Evaluation form 2 (internal link)

You do with a partner

Task 2

  1. Download your own copy of the Website Evaluation form 1 and the Website Evaluation form 2.
  2. Select from the following websites. Evaluate two with your partner. Use Form 1 for one of them and Form 2 for the other.
  3. Save your documents.

You do individually (Assessment)

Task 3

  1. Select one of the websites from the list above that you did not evaluate with your partner.
  2. Choose which evaluation form you would like to use to investigate this website yourself. [You will need to download a clean evaluation form.]
  3. Save your document.

Task 4

Web evaluation game to test how well you have learnt to recognise a good website.


 For the Teacher

Applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT

Recognise intellectual property

  • Identify the legal obligations regarding the ownership and use of digital products and apply some referencing conventions
    • Know how to locate the details of website ownership on a range of websites.

Investigating with ICT

Select and evaluate data and information

  • Assess the suitability of data or information using a range of appropriate given criteria.
    • be introduced to criteria for evaluating websites,
    • rate websites according to this criteria,
    • compare results and identify websites with reliable information.

Managing and Operating ICT

 Select and use hardware and software

  • Select from, and safely operate, a range of devices to undertake specific tasks and use basic troubleshooting procedures to solve routine malfunctions.
    • Download and use an online evaluation form. Save the form and know how to locate a ‘clean’ form for reuse.