Web Sites on Evaluating Web Sites

(Thanks to Glenda Thurman for directing me to these sites.)

Information Literacy involves advancing the skills of research, information technology and critical thinking. One important component of information literacy is learning how to evaluate information resources on the World Wide Web.

1) The CARS method, by Robert Harris.  A very detailed site.  He has written a book on the topic: WebQuester: A Guidebook to the Web.  He is a Prof. of English at Vanguard University.

  http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

2) UCLA Library site, by Esther Grassian, College Library, UCLA.  A very brief summary, with a list of pertinent evaluative questions.

  http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/college/help/critical/index.htm

3) Wolfgram-Memorial Library site, Widener University, by Jan Alexander and Marsha Ann Tate.  Very extensive site and very well done.  They have written a book on the topic: Web Wisdom: How to Evaluate and Create Information Quality on the Web

  http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm

They even have a set of Eight Teaching Modules that can be used for web instruction.

  http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/pyramid.htm

4) The ABC’s of Website Evaluation, by Kathy Schrock.  The best thing about this site is the list of links to other relevant sites.  It is primarily a guide for public school educators, but there is a lot here for all of us.

  http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/eval.html

5) St. Norbert’s College Library Site.  A site that emphasizes evaluative exercises. Lots of links to other sites with leading questions for the student.

  http://www.snc.edu/library/evalnet.htm

  Peter J. Mehl