Introduction

If you are like most students, you are relying heavily on resources from the Web for your research. However, not all Web resources are created equal. In fact, there are great variations in the quality of the resources you access. Some sources are simply unusable for research purposes. Others can provide solid information for you to use.  

It is exciting to have access to thousands of perspectives, breaking news, and visually entertaining and informative sites. The goal of this WebQuest is to equip you with the skills you will need to select resources for research. You may use the Web for personal reasons and find that taking such a close look at a site isn't always necessary. You may also find that this information helps you sort out the junk from the good stuff when you are surfing on your own time, as well in preparation for conducting research or completing an assignment. 

The Task

You will be working in pairs to evaluate a group of Web pages on the topic you are assigned. Each member of the pair will be examining sites from different perspectives. You will be ranking the sites, selecting which you would use for research purposes, and defending your choices.

The Process

1. Warm-up by evaluating the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research page using the First Impressions form .

• QUICK…complete this in 5 minutes with your partner!
• Look over the web site with the intention of deciding if you would us it for a research project.
• Complete the First Impressions form and answer the question on the board.

2. Go through the UC Berkeley tutorial on web site evaluation.

• Make your way slowly and thoughtfully through this tutorial. It is the “GUTS” of what you should learn in this activity.
• Use a print copy and highlight WHAT YOU NEED TO DO and QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK during the process of evaluating a site.

3. Each person selects 2 of the websites from their assigned topic.

• The sites to evaluate are in the chart below. Mrs. Woughter will assign you a topic. Use one form per website.
• Put both your names on the forms and turn them in. Be thorough. This portion of the assignment IS GRADED.
  
  

  Cloning:  I Can Do That! Cloning Reproductive & Therapeutic Cloning Human Genome Project Information Cloning in Focus	Smoking and tobacco: Smoking from All Sides Tobacco Free Kids website  The Facts Don't Pass Gas
  Aids: Virusmyth HIV Testing in the United States HIV/AIDS The AIDS Handbook	Holocaust The Jewish Virtual Library Is the Holocaust a Hoax? Holocaust Encyclopedia Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive

4. Share your evaluations with your partner.

Wrap Up:

Join the other groups that evaluated the same set of sites that you and your partner did. Discuss what you found and come to a consensus about the rank of the 3 sites.

Complete the final evaluation chart. Be thoughtful with your justification of the #1 and #3 ranked sites.

Make sure that the completion of this chart is a result of group discussion and consensus; turn in one chart per consolidated group with your names on it.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on:
1. DHMO First Impressions (including the thought question)
2. Evaluation forms for each site in your topic area.
3. Final evaluation comparison chart.
4. Use of time.

Conclusion

You will find yourself using the Internet for information. The Internet is only one of a variety of information options. Remember that journals, books, videos and other sources are available as well. Evaluating information is a skill you will be using throughout your lifetime.

Adapted with permission from "A WebQuest About Evaluating Web Sites" by Joyce Valenza http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/evalwebstu.html

Works Consulted

"Five Criteria for Evaluating Web pages"  from Jim Kapoun's, Teaching undergrads WEB evaluation: A guide for library instruction.  http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/webcrit.html

"Teaching Media Literacy in the Age of the Internet: the ABCs of Web Site Evaluation" by  Kathy Schrock. http://kathyschrock.net/abceval/weval_02.pdf