Other information you can
find out from the URL
The Uniform Resource Locator describes
the location of a resource on the Internet. All web
sites have URLs. A good analogy is that a URL is to
a web site what a telephone number is to a telephone.
The URL for this site is http://www.pbs4549.org.
The last section (pbs4549.org) in
the above address is its domain name. These domain names
combine what a group calls itself and the type of organization
that maintains the site. We call ourselves pbs4549 because
that's the name of our public television station. The
last three letters are given out according to the type
of Internet provider hosting the site. These three letters
can tell you a lot about the type of information on
a web site.
2.
Is the information factual?
Does the information
contained in the site confirm information from other sources?
Can you confirm who maintains the site and is the organization
reputable? How much confidence do you have in this site?
4.
Is the information biased?
This site is promoting
a particular point of view. Are there obvious omissions
of facts? Are both sides of an issue identified? Does
the site have a vested interest in the topic? Are stereotyping
or other biases indicated?
Does the author have a home page
that tells about him/herself? Does the author have any
qualifications to present information about the topic?
(Other than access to a web authoring program?) Is the
author affiliated with a reputable organization. Is
the information about the author veritable?
Carl Sagan's Pale Blue Dot
http://www.visi.com/~markg/sagan.html
Rebuttal to Carl Sagan's Pale Blue
Dot
http://www.icr.org/pubs/imp/imp-264.htm
6.
Do links to other sites take you to good information?
How useful are the
links? Do links go to resources or to lists of resources?
Do the links lead to information about the original web
site topic? Do the links add to the overall information
about the topic? Do the links help you verify information?
7.
Does the structure of the site add to its usability?
Does it load quickly?
Is it interactive? (Can you input information and receive
feedback? Can you practice what is presented?) Is the
purpose of the site easily understood? Does it use jargon
that is not easily understood? Does the construction of
the site aid you in finding what you need?
8.
Who is the intended audience?
Is the readability
level appropriate? Does it contain inappropriate language?
Is there content you wouldn't want your grandmother to
see or read?
9.
When was the information updated?
Does the site tell
you how often it is updated? When was it last revised?
You can often check the bottom of the page to find when
material was updated.
10.
Is the information relevant?
Is it new information?
Is the information useful? Does it compliment other information
to which you have access?
11.
Is a Web review available?
There aren't any of the traditional
"reviews" on the Internet. If you check out
a library book, the information has been checked by
a publisher and the library has subjected it to a selection
process. These professional "filters" are
not present on the web so you have to evaluate
each web site you use. Some sites do offer reviews of
web pages and these sites are a good place to start
the evaluative process.
http://www.globalschoolhouse.com/
12.
Is a site included in a general guide to the Internet?
Guides are done by
all sorts of organizations and individuals. I've listed
two that have good professional criteria for including
a list.
