Why evaluate web sites? No one judges the quality or accuracy of information found on the World Wide Web before it is published, so you must evaluate what you find for yourself. Some sites are created by experts; for example, the University of Maryland Libraries site is authored by librarians who have expertise in the field of information science. However, the vast majority of World Wide Web sites are designed and authored by non-experts. Directions: 1. Carefully read through and answer each question directly on this form. 2. After filling out the page print it. 3. Attach a printout of the first page of the web site you are evaluating to this checklist and hand the packet in to your professor. What is the URL or web address of the web site you are evaluating? http://www.schrockguide.net/ What is the title of the web site? Kathy Schrock’s Guide to Everything Authority and Accuracy Anyone who knows a little HTML coding and has access to a server can create and load a web page. It is important to find out the author’s identity and his or her qualifications or expertise in order to determine the credibility and reliability of the information. Who is the author of the web site? I couldn’t tell The author is: Kathy Schrock. She is an educational technologist and instructor at Wilkes University and was formerly a librarian and the Director of Technology for a school district. She has over 20 years experience in educational technology. What authorship clues did the URL (web address) provide? Check all that apply: company (.com) non-profit organization (.org) academic institution (.edu) country-specific site (e.g., .uk) U.S. government agency (.gov) personal web page (e.g., www.jamieoliver.com) U.S. military site (.mil) other? Please describe: network of computer (.net) What are the qualifications of the author or group that created the site? I couldn’t find this information. The author’s qualifications are: Ms. Schrock has over 20 years of experience in educational technology. Prior to her retirement, she partnered with Discovery Education. She is a Google Certified Teacher and Adobe Education Leader as well as an Alpha Squirrel and Discovery Education STAR. She still conducts professional development trainings and is active in social media to support teachers and technology in education. She is also a published author and has written books and articles all about technology. Purpose and Content Determine the purpose of the web site by looking closely at the content of the information. Some sites provide links to information (e.g., an About Our Organization or Mission Statement page) detailing the purpose in creating the web site, while the purpose of others might not be obvious at first. Take the time to thoroughly explore a web site to determine if the information is mostly subjective (biased or opinionated), objective (factual), or mixed. What is the purpose of the web page or site? Check all that apply: A personal web page A company or organization web site A forum for educational/public service information A forum for scholarly/research information For entertainment An advertisement or electronic commerce A forum for ideas, opinions, or points of view Other – please explain: In your own words, briefly describe the purpose of the web site: This site provides countless resources for educators to assist in technology integration, including apps, websites, various tools, pedagogy, and social media links related to technology. What does the web site provide? Check one: Balanced, objective or factual information Biased, subjective or opinionated statements Are the arguments well supported? Yes No Both objective and subjective information I couldn’t tell Other – please explain: Does the web site provide any contact information or means of communicating with the author or webmaster? No Yes, the site provides: Mailing address, phone and fax numbers, email address, and multiple social media tags File: Evaluating Websites: A Checklist University of Maryland Libraries * T&L * 2/2014 Currency The currency or regularity of updating information is vital for some types of web sites and not so important for others. For example, web sites that provide historical information, such as the presidential papers of George Washington, do not have to be updated as often as sites that provide news stories or stock market information. When was the web site last revised, modified, or updated? I couldn’t tell It was updated: This site was just updated today, March 29, 2016. Is currency important to the type of information available on this web site? Please explain: Currency is important. Resources in educational technology are always changing. New apps are developed, some formerly free resources are now subject to subscriptions, and there are changes in pedagogical methodologies. Is the site well maintained? I couldn’t tell Yes- the information is current, the site is updated, and Kathy Schrock is up to date on social media as further methods of information and communication. No Are links broken (do you receive error messages)? I couldn’t tell Yes No: I clicked on countless different links and every single one loaded easily. Ms. Schrock also states with many links “If you find a link that is not working, please let me know the title and I will fix it! Thank you!” Design, Organization, and Ease of Use Design, organization, and ease of use are important considerations. Web sites can provide useful sources of information. However, if a web site is slow to load, or difficult to navigate, search, and read, its contribution and usefulness will be lost. In your opinion, how does the web site appear overall? Check all that apply: Well designed and organized Poorly designed and organized Easy to read and navigate Difficult to read and navigate Help screens are available Help screens are unavailable A search feature/site map is available A search feature/site map is unavailable The site is extremely comprehensive, but very overwhelming. Although the information is organized by topic and the resources within the topic are applicable, the sheer quanities of links are overwhelming and it is unlikely an educator will have the time to sift through all of the resources. File: Evaluating Websites: A Checklist University of Maryland Libraries * T&L * 2/2014