Website Assessment

TEC 509 - July 2008By:

Randy AllenMonica Flores

Mary GoreKimberly Powell

Evaluation Criteria

• Accuracy• Authority• Objectivity• Currency• Coverage

Criterion #1: Accuracy

Is the information reliable and error-free?

Is there an editor or someone who verifies/checks the information?

Website Accuracy• Almost anyone can publish on

the Web.

• Many Web resources are not verified by editors.

• Web standards do not exist to ensure accuracy

Criterion #2: Authority

Is there an author?

Is the author qualified?

Is the publisher of the page reputable?

QualificationsQualifications

Website Authority• It is often hard to determine the

author of a web page.

• Qualifications are frequently missing.

• The publisher is not always indicated.

Criterion #3: ObjectivityDoes the information show a minimum of bias?

Does the page try to sway the audience’s opinion?

Is there any advertising on the page?

WEB SOAPWEB SOAP

Website Objectivity• Goals of the author are not

clearly stated.

• The Web often serves as a virtual soapbox.

Criterion #4: Currency

Is the content up-to-date?

Is the publication date clearly indicated?

2008

Website Currency• Dates are not always included on

Web pages.

• Dates may have different meanings.• It may indicate when the material was

first written. • It may indicate when the material was

first placed on the Web. • It may indicate when the material was

last revised.

Criterion #5: CoverageWhat topics are covered?

What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere?

How in-depth is the material?

= ?

Website Coverage• Web coverage may be different

from print coverage.

• It can be difficult to determine the extent of Web coverage.• The page may or may not include

links to other web pages or print references.

Evaluate Actual Web Pages

1. Accuracy2. Authority

3. Objectivity4. Currency5. Coverage

World WideWorld WideWebWeb

Now it’s your turn . . . How good are these websites?• FROGDANCE

• http://www.darsbydesign.com/spudfrog/

• Exploratorium: Frogs• http://www.exploratorium.edu/fro

gs/index.html• Michele’s Frog Page

• http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htm

FROGDANCE

FROGDANCE Rubric

Name: Kimberly Powell Date: 17 July 2008 Website: FROGDANCE Website address: http://www.darsbydesign.com/spudfrog/ Brief description of site: This is a fun site that has different frogs dancing to music.

Criteria for Evaluation yes no 1. Accuracy

Is the information reliable and error-free? X Is there someone who checks the

information? X

2. Authority Is there an author? X Is the author qualified? X Is the publisher of the page reputable? X

3. Objectivity Does the information show a minimum of

bias? X

Does the page try to sway the audience’s opinion?

X

Is there any advertising on the page? X 4. Currency

Is the content up-to-date? X Is the publication date clearly indicated? X

5. Coverage What topics are covered? The web page only shows fictional frogs dancing. This

site does not have any facts about frogs just games and activities using frogs.

What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere? The frogs dancing to the song may be unique.

How in-depth is the material? The information is superficial.

FROGDANCE - Accuracy?• There is no information to be

reliable or checked. • This site appears to be just for

fun and not educational.

FROGDANCE - Author?• The author listed on the page is

fictional.

• The author on the main page does not give any information to show qualifications.

FROGDANCE - Objectivity?• The information makes the

frogs look like silly cartoon characters.

• Again, this site seems to be just for fun and not educational.

FROGDANCE - Currency?• There is no date on any of the

pages.

FROGDANCE - Coverage?• The page only shows fictional

frogs dancing. • This site does not have any

facts about frogs just games and activities with them.

FROGDANCE• FROGDANCE is not an

educational site.• It is a site that you might visit

just for entertainment.

Exploratorium: Frogs

Exploratorium: Frogs

Name: Monica Flores Date: July 18, 2008 Website: Exploratorium: Frogs Website address: http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html

Brief description of site: This site gives a wide range of information about frog history, myths and stories about frogs, and factual information about frogs.

Criteria for Evaluation yes no 1. Accuracy

Is the information reliable and error-free? X Is there someone who checks the

information? X

2. Authority Is there an author? X Is the author qualified? X Is the publisher of the page reputable? X

3. Objectivity Does the information show a minimum of

bias? X

Does the page try to sway the audience’s opinion?

X

Is there any advertising on the page? X 4. Currency

Is the content up-to-date? X Is the publication date clearly indicated? X

5. Coverage What topics are covered? This site covers information about frogs.

What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere? There are stories and videos

that we could not find in newspapers.

How in-depth is the material? The information is factual and can be backed up.

Exploratorium: Frogs - Accuracy?

• The information is concrete. It is factual.

• There is a reliable information that can be used for teaching or reports.

Exploratorium: Frogs - Authority?

• The page is well represented.• The authors are listed on a

separate page, with credit to what or who they represent.

Exploratorium: Frogs - Objectivity?

• This site serves a purpose - to learn about frogs with factual information.

• It gives information about habitats, types of frogs, and locations.

• The graphics are real pictures of frogs.

Exploratorium: Frogs - Currency?

• The date is indicated.

• The information is true but has not been updated since 1999.

Exploratorium: Frogs - Coverage?

• This site covers information about frogs.

• There are stories and videos that we could not find in the newspaper.

• The information is factual and can be backed up.

Michele’s Frog Page

Michele’s Frog Page - Rubric

Name: Randy Allen Date: July 18, 2008 Website: Michele’s Frog Site Website address: http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htm Brief description of site: Site contains links to lots of pictures of frogs. Frogs in art, on postcards, on shirts, porcelain/ceramic frogs. There are frog jokes, stamps, and covers. It contains a lot of collector material about frogs.

Criteria for Evaluation yes no 1. Accuracy

Is the information reliable and error-free? x Is there someone who checks the

information? x

2. Authority Is there an author? x Is the author qualified? x Is the publisher of the page reputable? x

3. Objectivity Does the information show a minimum of

bias? x

Does the page try to sway the audience’s opinion?

x

Is there any advertising on the page? 4. Currency

Is the content up-to-date? x Is the publication date clearly indicated? x

5. Coverage What topics are covered? Information about frog collectables. She does have a

page with links that will take you to other sites. Some of the sites are sites dealing with real frogs and how they exist in different habitats.

What does this page offer that is not found elsewhere? Possibly some of the pictures from postcards and the art. If you are interested in frog collectables this might be a site to check out since it also has links to other sites/stores where items can be purchased.

How in-depth is the material? Very much on the surface

Michele’s Frog Page - Accuracy?

• The information is reliable and error-free.

• This site does have an individual who checks the information.

Michele’s Frog Page - Authority?

• The author is listed for this page.

• The publisher is reputable.

Michele’s Frog Page - Objectivity?

• The information is biased.• However, it does not try to

sway the audience’s opinion.• There is no advertising on the

web page.

Michele’s Frog Page - Currency?

• The information has not been updated recently.

• The publication date is indicated on the home page.

Michele’s Frog Page - Coverage?

• The information is mainly about frog collectibles.

• Some of the artwork and postcard pictures are unique.

• The information is not in-depth.

Bibliography• Beck, Susan E. (2008, April 3). Evaluation Criteria from

"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: or Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources". Retrieved July 16, 2008, from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly or Why It's a Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources Web site: http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

• Dar, FROGDANCE. Retrieved July 17, 2008, from All the Frogs on the Site - Dar's By Design Web site: http://www.darsbydesign.com/spudfrog/

• Spadaccini, Jim (1999). Exploratorium: Frogs. Retrieved July 18, 2008, from Exploratorium: the museum of science, art, and human perception Web site: http://www.exploratorium.edu/frogs/index.html

• Maki, Michele (2007, December 5). Michele’s Frog Page. Retrieved July 19, 2008, from Michele Maki’s Home Page Web site: http://michelesworld.net/Frogs/frog.htm