The purpose of this assignment is to learn how to evaluate online information and web resources using these criteria: authority, accuracy, objectivity, coverage, and design. Search for and evaluate a minimum of 4 authentic web resources for each of the following criteria. In the course of this activity, begin to work toward an understanding of these aspects of literacy:

1.     What is literacy? How has it been defined historically?

2.     What is technological literacy?

3.     What is visual literacy?

4.     What is multicultural literacy?

Much of this assignment was adapted from the Web site "Teaching Critical Evaluation Skills for World Wide Web Resources" created by Jan Alexander and Marsha Tate of the Wolfgram Memorial Library, Widener University.

http://www.science.widener.edu/~withers/webeval.htm

The internet provides users a wide range of information; scholarly documents posted next to dubious ones; advertisements mixed with critical articles. Because the information is largely unfiltered, evaluation sites recommend caution. Caveat lector- Let the reader beware. While it is true that some evaluation services are available and some internet review criteria parallel those used for print resources, it is also true that additional criteria need to be identified and defined to use reviewing internet sources.

Step one in evaluating, using or copying resources found online, is a visit to THE COPYRIGHT WEBSITE, (http://www.benedict.com/)

Next, apply at least the following criteria to online information:

AUTHORSHIP OR AUTHORITY

	Is there a signature? Who is the author? (usually in footer)
	Is the author qualified? (mentionned by another authority? linked to biographical information that allows you to judge credentials?)
	Who is the sponsor? How reputable is the sponsor?
	Is this page cited by other authorities in the field?
	If there is no signature nor clear indication of sponsor, is there a way to determine the origin of the page? (phone number, address, email address*an email address alone is not enough-look at headers or footers for affiliation)

Note: As information published online can seem to be anonymous, establishing authorship and authority become crucial to establishing credibility of source material. The server replaces the publishing body of the print world without guaranteeing the peer review process print media undergoes. Therefore, search for the name of an organization, a watermark or a link to that information. You are trying to determine whether the information resides on a personal or an official Web site, first, and then to evaluate the official site and the authors purpose and credentials.

 

ACCURACY

	Is the information reliable?
	Is the site well-edited, error-free?
	Does the document name a methodology, provide a bibliography, list those responsible for verifying data?
	Is the information presented as fact, accurate?

Note: Remember how easily anyone can publish on the internet. At present, most websites exist without standards to ensure accuracy.

OBJECTIVITY

	Is the document located on the server of an organization with a particular bias? Is the intent to sway opinion or deliver information impartially?
	Is there advertising on the page? (If products representing a company or the political agenda of a party appear, you are reading advertising.)
	Again, does the resource explain and cite original material used to support the article?

Note: Because information is rarely neutral, because controversial questions are often so interesting, because publishing is so easy online, be careful to check objectivity. Do you want to use research residing on a page sponsored by an advocacy group for an informational paper on abortion?

CURRENCY

	Is the document dated?
	Is the site well-maintained? When was the last update?
	How reliable is the location? How current are the links? Are some of the links expired or moved?
	If the page is not dated, can you view the directory to find the date it was last modified?

Note: Because webpages are constantly changing, dates become especially important. Remember,
though, that the dates may mean date of authorship, of revision, of posting on the web.

COVERAGE

	Is the subject covered completely? in-depth? omissions?
	Is the material appropriate to the intended audience? What is the technical level of this audience?
	What does this site do uniquely? Compared to other sites on similar topics is it superior? Does it offer information that is valued?
	What does this page contribute to other literature in the field?

Note: Appropriateness becomes an important issue when we consider access to minors. Depth is always critical to research.

ARRANGEMENT AND VISUAL DESIGN

	What makes the site distinctive, ÒcoolÓ?
	Does the arrangement suit the topic, enhance its use, contribute to the utility and value of the site?
	Does the overall design contribute to the information? Are the images attractive and appropriate to the purpose of the page?
	Are the headers, font size and white space used well? helpfully?
	How would you rate the ease of use? Is there a table of contents? an index? a search engine?
	Are the hotlinks appropriate and complete to satisfy the purpose?

Note: Web page design, like internet publishing, is an individualized, unmonitored process. It becomes important, then, to determine whether a page is arranged effectively to enable efficient use.

Attributions: Although many resources exist online, the following three by Jane Alexander and Marsha Tate, Susan Beck, and Elizabeth Kirk are exceptionally helpful. Visit them for in-depth evaluation guides; this teaching exercise is a compilation of portions of their web site evaluation articles residing at:

http://www.science.widener.edu/~withers/webeval.htm
http://lib.nmsu.edu/staff/susabeck/eval.html
http://milton.mse.jhu.edu:8001/research/education/net.html