Internet Searching and Evaluating Websites (Basic Course: Module 2)
Searching and Evaluating the Web (General)
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And making it count… SEARCHING THE WEB Cara Stone, Grand View Library [email protected] http://library.grandview.edu
Transcript of Searching and Evaluating the Web (General)
And making it count…
SEARCHING THE WEB
Cara Stone, Grand View Library [email protected]
http://library.grandview.edu
The Internet isn’t Perfect
Why I love the Internet: EasyAlways changingTons of information at
my fingertipsFacebookSilly YouTube Videos
(am I right?!)
My favorite part is right around 2:15… “Little Happy Birthday? Big Happy
Birthday!”http://youtu.be/Msi5KTf3tM0
The Internet Isn’t Perfect
Why I’m skeptical of the internet:
Anyone can put anything up and call themselves an “authority” in the subject
Always changing
Too much information at my fingertips?
Time suck… (It’s already WHAT time?!...Ugh.)
Example 1: Wikipedia
Why I love it:
Quick and easy general information
Fairly current (celebrity relationships, Beyonce’spregnancy, natural disasters)
Why I wouldn’t use it to write a paper:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton,_Iowa
Example 2: Dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide
http://www.dhmo.org/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snapr/484776493/
Let’s Search!Find a website about your topic that you think is of quality—on that website find a fascinating fact.Use the Blackboard Discussion for today – Quality Websites in Research
Part I: Quality or not quality, that is the question
Submit the URL (website) and why you think it is of quality
Be prepared to explain to the class why you think it is a good resource
What elements can you point out to us?
Part II: Fascinating or not fascinating, that is (also) the question
What is your interesting fact?
What makes it so interesting?
How is it different than the other facts already posted by your peers?
After you have posted your own fascinating fact, read through and find at least two more facts from your classmates' posts and respond to the ones you feel are most interesting. Be sure to respond in a full sentence or two--don't just say "cool fact."
Elements of a Good Web Resource
Authority: Who wrote it?
What are their qualifications?
Is it some random enthusiast typing away in his basement?
URL: What clues does the URL provide?
Is it a .gov?, .edu?, .com?, .us?
Purpose: Personal? Company or organization? Forum for
educational information? Scholarly forum? Entertainment? Advertisement or profit?
Elements of a Good Web Resource
Content:
Biased opinion
Objective
Factual
Are arguments well supported or researched? Contain objective and subjective information
Contact:
Email or write the webmaster or author?
Elements of a Good Web Resource
Currency Is it up-to-date (does it need to be up-to-date)?
(Historical information vs. news or current events)
Last revised/modified date?
Well-maintained? (Broken links? Error messages?)
Design Easy to navigate/use?
Search/site map?
Easy to read?
In the end, it’s your judgment call…
Questions?
A helpful checklist is in your Blackboard page under Library Resources
http://www.lib.umd.edu/guides/webcheck.html
Cara Stone: [email protected]; 515.263.2878
University of Maryland Libraries. “Checklist for Evaluating Web Sites.” 2011. 16 Aug 2011.
