Evaluating Websites

The web can be a scary place. Luckily, most adults know that not everything out there is credible, valuable, or even true. Unfortunately, children may have a much more naive view and believe what they see on the web must be from an expert and must be true. This is why it is important for teachers to tell their students that not all websites are credible. Here are some of the things I would tell my students to do when deciding if a website is credible. One thing students should always do is to look for an author. Credible websites should have an author and it should not be that hard to find. If there is no author, the website might not be credible. Another thing students should look for is sources. A website full of facts should list sources that support these facts. Speaking of facts, does the website have facts? If it feels like the website is giving more of an opinion, then it probably is. In fact, many websites are biased. I think it is important to tell students that there may be information on the website they know is wrong. If they see something that feels wrong, it very well could be. For example, have you ever heard of an octopus that lives in a tree? The website, Save the Northwest Tree Octopus claims so, but I highly doubt it. Something else students can look for when evaluating a website is links. Does the website link you to other credible websites? For example, the Martin Luther King website had a link to a rap lyrics website. That doesn't sound too helpful. A credible website should also have dates on it. When was it last updated? If it hasn't been updated in several years it may be wise to find a new website.

As you can see, there are several different things to look for when determining if a website is credible or not. I learned during this assignment that it may take some time to explore the website before reaching a verdict. Students should know that its always okay to ask a teacher, parent, or even a peer, what they think of the website. After all, it can be confusing!