Lesson 10 Contents:

Learning Objectives

I. Preface

II. Preliminary Evaluation of Books and Periodical Articles

III. Extra Care Required: Evaluating Websites and Web pages

IV. Summary

V. Key Points to Remember

Lesson Ten Quiz

Lesson Ten Exercise

III. EXTRA CARE REQUIRED: EVALUATING WEBSITES AND WEB PAGES

As discussed in Lesson 9, one of the drawbacks of the Internet is lack of quality control. This means that anyone who has a computer connected to the Internet and wants to make his/her information or opinion available can "publish" on the Web. But because there are no restrictions, guidelines, or review processes for contributions to the Web, the quality, accuracy, validity, and authoritativeness of the contributed information varies wildly. Therefore, when viewing sites on the Web, you must apply your critical thinking skills and judge for yourself the usefulness, validity, and reliability of the information you uncover. Especially when doing general Web surfing with search engines, arm yourself with an active, questioning mind and a healthy skepticism, because not all Websites are equally valuable or credible.

Evaluating Websites, like any other skill, takes time, patience, and practice. One method of evaluating Websites is described at a Website named QUICK: The Quality Information Checklist. This Website describes 8 ways to evaluate Websites.

• Click HERE connect to QUICK: The Quality Information Checklist
  
• Click on each of the 8 links that represents the 8 ways of checking information on Websites and read about these checkpoints.
  
• When you finish reading through the 8 checkpoints, click on "Back to Menu" in the upper left margin.
  
• From the QUICK main menu, click on "QUICK QUIZ" (middle of the page) and take the quiz.
  
• When you answer all 8 questions correctly, you will be shown a "Congratulations" screen