Evaluating Web Sites

When using the Internet for classroom projects, I locate important sites beforehand for my students. I feel that this saves time and, more importantly, improves the quality of information that students access. Lately, however, I've begun to realize that students need to learn how to evaluate websites on their own; it's important that students know how to discern the differences in quality among the sites they visit. Following is an activity designed to help students begin this process:

Step One: Send students to one of the following sites and ask them to list the two most important facts found there:

DiHydrogen Monoxide - The Truth (For high school students)

The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus (For middle or elementary students)

Actually, there is only one important fact imbedded in any of these sites, but I like to mislead my students a bit at this point. If you're not sure what this most important fact is, please email me.

Step Two: Use the above exercise to initiate a discussion on how web sites may not be all that they seem to be. Discuss how there is a "science" to evaluating websites. Direct your students to the following site and have them complete the tutorial:

QUICK: QUality Information ChecKlist

I plan on having students complete an outline while working through the tutorial; this ensures that each student will read a certain amount of the material. Click here to access my QUICK outline.

Step Three: Distribute copies of a web site evaluation form. One widely used form can be found at Kathy Schrock's Site, located at:

Critical evaluation of a web site: Middle school level

Step Four: Assign a pre-selected web site to each pair of students. Once they have been assigned a site, each group will use Kathy Schrock's form to evaluate the information found at their site.