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Evaluating WebsitesEvaluating Websites

Last updated:9/2014

Last updated:9/2014

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ObjectivesObjectives

By the end of today you will know:Why websites should

be evaluatedHow to evaluate

websites

By the end of today you will know:Why websites should

be evaluatedHow to evaluate

websites

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Why Evaluate?Why Evaluate?

All websites are not created equally

Example: Martin Luther King, Jr.http://www.martinlutherking.org

All websites are not created equally

Example: Martin Luther King, Jr.http://www.martinlutherking.org

Google results Google results

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http://www.martinlutherking.orgWould you use this site?

http://www.martinlutherking.orgWould you use this site?

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What do you think about this site?What do you think about this site?

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Sample flyerSample flyer

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Who’s the author of the site?Who’s the author of the site?

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What do you think of the author?What do you think of the author?

So, how will you know if a website is reliable?

So, how will you know if a website is reliable?

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How to Evaluate?How to Evaluate?

Start your researchusing reliable sources

Cross reference - find the same information in another source

Start your researchusing reliable sources

Cross reference - find the same information in another source

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How to Evaluate?How to Evaluate?

Check Domain namesExample, .com, .edu

.gov = governmental agency (very reliable!)Example: hawaii.govInformation at .gov sites needs to be approved before

posting.

Check Domain namesExample, .com, .edu

.gov = governmental agency (very reliable!)Example: hawaii.govInformation at .gov sites needs to be approved before

posting.

Link checkLink check

Find out who is linking to the siteExample,Link:http://www.martinlutherking.org

Find out who is linking to the siteExample,Link:http://www.martinlutherking.org

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Link check results:Used as a Web Credibility Exercise

Link check results:Used as a Web Credibility Exercise

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URL cluesURL clues

Check the URL or the web address: Does is have a tilde “~”?

Indicates a personal website

Ex. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~Higa

(Who’s Higa? Teacher? Student? Expert in the field?)

Check the URL or the web address: Does is have a tilde “~”?

Indicates a personal website

Ex. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~Higa

(Who’s Higa? Teacher? Student? Expert in the field?)

CurrencyCurrency

Consider your topic…Do you need current, or up-to-date

information?Would “old” information be okay?

Consider your topic…Do you need current, or up-to-date

information?Would “old” information be okay?

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Authority: Sources listed?Authority: Sources listed?

Does the author/site include a list of sources used?

Where did they get their information from?

Can you tell if the sources are credible or not?

Does the author/site include a list of sources used?

Where did they get their information from?

Can you tell if the sources are credible or not?

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Author’s purpose?Author’s purpose?

To share facts versus opinion?Fact = something that is trueOpinion = what someone thinks

Bias = a preference for a particular belief or idea over other ideas and beliefs

To share facts versus opinion?Fact = something that is trueOpinion = what someone thinks

Bias = a preference for a particular belief or idea over other ideas and beliefs

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Wikipedia: What do you think?

Wikipedia: What do you think?

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Wikipedia: Good & BadWikipedia: Good & Bad

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Wikipedia: The Bad SideWikipedia: The Bad Side

E.g., A 2007 news article:E.g., A 2007 news article:

• 1,662 Wikipedia edits made from Univ. of Hawaii computers

• 776 edits made from Dept. of Ed. computers

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Wikipedia: The Bad SideWikipedia: The Bad Side

Examples: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

died in a Texas bathroom in 2004

Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie has killed more than 5 million wolves

(anyone can post information)

Examples: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

died in a Texas bathroom in 2004

Hawaii Congressman Neil Abercrombie has killed more than 5 million wolves

(anyone can post information)

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Wikipedia: The Good SideWikipedia: The Good SideYou might find great information under External links

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WikipediaWikipedia

Rule of thumb: Might be a good place

to start (if it has a list of references)

Bad place to end your research.

Rule of thumb: Might be a good place

to start (if it has a list of references)

Bad place to end your research.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

How can you evaluate a website?Check domain names (.gov is good!)Link check – are others linking to the

site and if yes, who?CurrencyAuthor’s background and purpose

(ex. fact versus opinion)

How can you evaluate a website?Check domain names (.gov is good!)Link check – are others linking to the

site and if yes, who?CurrencyAuthor’s background and purpose

(ex. fact versus opinion)

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Thank you for your attention, now you try it!

Thank you for your attention, now you try it!