Website Evaluation
 

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Check-list for Web Site Evaluation:

Use these criteria to determine a web site's overall validity/quality before you decide to use the information it provides.        Remember:   C A R R D S

Credibility: Who is the author of the page? What are his or her credentials? Education? Experience? Affiliation?  Who actually published the page?

Accuracy: Can facts, statistics, or other information be verified through other sources? Do there appear to be errors on the page?

Reliability: Does the source present a particular view or bias? Is the page affiliated with an organization that has a particular political or social agenda? Can you find other material to offer balance so that you can see the bigger picture?

Relevance: Does the information on the website directly support my hypothesis/thesis or help to answer my question? Can I eliminate or ignore it because it simply doesn’t help me?

Date: When was this information created? When was it revised? (Be suspicious of undated material.)

Sources Behind the Text: Did the author bother to document his or her sources? use reliable, credible sources? (Remember: documentation can be fake!) Were those references popular, scholarly, reputable?

Information Literacy
 

What is Information Literacy?

The American Association of School Librarians has identified "Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning":

Information Literacy

  • Standard 1: The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.
  • Standard 2: The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.
  • Standard 3: The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.

Independent Learning

  • Standard 4: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and pursues information related to personal interests.
  • Standard 5: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and appreciates literature and other creative expressions of information.
  • Standard 6: The student who is an independent learner is information literate and strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation.

Social Responsibility

  • Standard 7: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and recognizes the importance of information to a democratic society.
  • Standard 8: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.
  • Standard 9: The student who contributes positively to the learning community and to society is information literate and participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information. ("Information Power: The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning.")

"Information Power: The Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning." AASL Homepage. 2000. ALA. 16 June 2000.