Evaluating a Websource
Anyone can post information on the Internet. So how do you know that the information is true? You have to evaluate the websites you use. This is important because you don't want to be using incorrect information for something. For example, if you are doing a project for school on Columbus and a website says he sailed in 1942 and was born in 1951, that's obviously incorrect becuase he would've sailed when he was -9 years old. We also know from the saying that, "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue." You would not want to use that website if the information is wrong. The 6 things we should take into consideration when we are evaluating websites and web sources are:
1. Authority - Is there the name of the author or authors? Do they have a connection to the information on the website?
2. Accuracy - Is the information accurate? Can you verify the information on other websites?
3. Objectivity - Is the site biased?
4. Relevancy - Is the information good for what you need it for?
5. Currency - When was the site last updated? Is the information up-to-date?
6. Coverage - Does the website go far enough into the details, or is it generic?
We did an activity in class with different websites, using the web quest on http://evaluatingawebsource.weebly.com. Some were valid, others were not. One website that was valid was https://www.ushmm.org because it gave correct information. For example, it said that the term genocide was not used until the year 1944. You can easily find this fact on other websites as well. This site did not have the names of the authors listed, but had contact information for the museum. This website was proven to be valid because of its in-depth information about the Holocaust. One website that was not valid was http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/ because the information was wrong. This site did have a page for the authors, and they were mostly teachers. However, the site also said that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1942 and was born 9 years later. This is not possible as human beings, to do something remarkable before we are born. This site is invalid because of this.
1. Authority - Is there the name of the author or authors? Do they have a connection to the information on the website?
2. Accuracy - Is the information accurate? Can you verify the information on other websites?
3. Objectivity - Is the site biased?
4. Relevancy - Is the information good for what you need it for?
5. Currency - When was the site last updated? Is the information up-to-date?
6. Coverage - Does the website go far enough into the details, or is it generic?
We did an activity in class with different websites, using the web quest on http://evaluatingawebsource.weebly.com. Some were valid, others were not. One website that was valid was https://www.ushmm.org because it gave correct information. For example, it said that the term genocide was not used until the year 1944. You can easily find this fact on other websites as well. This site did not have the names of the authors listed, but had contact information for the museum. This website was proven to be valid because of its in-depth information about the Holocaust. One website that was not valid was http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/ because the information was wrong. This site did have a page for the authors, and they were mostly teachers. However, the site also said that Christopher Columbus sailed in 1942 and was born 9 years later. This is not possible as human beings, to do something remarkable before we are born. This site is invalid because of this.