Internet Evaluation Form

URL: ________________________________________________________________

This is the evaluation form used by students to identify and evaluate web sites. The form itself is based upon the evaluation form created by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL evaluation form). The content of the AASL form was edited by my students to fit the purposes of our web page evaluation project. The students working on this form included Jeremy Allen, Paschal Dellavedova, Beth Garrison, Laura Kincaid, Jennifer Orr, John Ramsey, Utomo Suryo, and Zac White.

The web sites are to be divided into categories of information. The first step in the evaluation process is to determine in which category the content of the web page belongs.

Political_______ Cultural_______ Data_______ News_______ Travel and Study _______

I. Authority/Credibility.__________Rating. (This section is rated from 1 to 5. 5=Highly Recommended, 4=Recommended, 3=Average, 2=Needs Work, 1=Not Recommended.)

Write a paragraph or two that evaluates the authority/credibility of the site by addressing the following points: who provides the site (person, institution, business, agency, political party, etc.); who the author is and is there email address provided? (What is it?); identifying the credentials of the author with regard to the topic of the site (is it a professor, professional, or someone with an interest in the subject matter)?; identifying whether the author's/group's affiliation appears to bias the information; identifying the purpose of the web site? (To provide information, sell something, campaigning, etc.); informing the reader if there is personal information required in order to receive information from the site? (Is the personal information optional? Password needed?)

II. Content. __________ Rating. (This section is rated from 1 to 5. 5=Highly Recommended, 4=Recommended, 3=Average, 2=Needs Work, 1=Not Recommended)

Write a paragraph or two that evaluates the content of the site by addressing the following points: offer an overview of the content; determine if the web site contains accurate, reliable information; tell the reader if a substantial portion of the site contains editorializing by the author; determine if there are references offered that allow the reader to verify some or all of the information offered; note if there are grammar or spelling errors; identify how often the information is updated (if that is pertinent to the type of information offered);

III. Design and Navigation . __________ Rating. (This section is rated from 1 to 5. 5=Highly Recommended, 4=Recommended, 3=Average, 2=Needs Work, 1=Not Recommended)

Write a paragraph or two that evaluates the design of the site by addressing the following points: offer a brief description of the layout of the page; determine if it is easy to find the material referenced on the page; determine if it is easy to move around the web site and retrieve material; determine if the links from the page work; offer an overall impression of this site.