Evaluating Web Sites/Is This For Real?

Anyone can write or post on the Internet. So how do you know if what you are reading is true? Check out these websites for tips on deciding if what you are looking at is written by someone who knows what they are talking about, is current information, and is not just trying to change your mind or sell you something! Don't be fooled by bad information!

http://www.bpl.org/kids/Evaluate.htm
For middle-schoolers. Sponsored by the Boston Public Library, this site tells you what to look for if you are trying to decide if you can use the web for school reports.

http://www.kidsclick.org/
Play it safe! Use a search engine that has librarian -approved sites. 100’s of topics to choose from that link to sites that are appropriate for elementary school searchers. Older teens may find some useful information as well.

http://www.ithaca.edu/library/training/think.html
ICYouSee: T is for Thinking
“A Guide to Critical Thinking About What You See on the Web”
A quick check list for teens that distinguishes “web pages” from “pages on the web”, and teaches students how to determine the “intent” of the site. Also includes a brief reference on “citing the site”.

http://www.lesley.edu/library/guides/research/evaluating_web.html
This site is not colorful or fun – but it will provide older teens with all the tools and criteria for evaluating web sites. Examples of sites are given with tips for judging authenticity, purpose, objectivity, and more.

http://www.factchecked.org/StraightFromTheSource.aspx
Older teens. Writing about political or government issues? Read this to help you decide if your sources are unbiased or “slanted”.

http://freefulltext.com/"provides direct links to over 7000 scholarly periodicals which allow some or all of their online content to be viewed by ANYONE with Internet access for free (though some may require free registration)." Use this to check and see if those annotated articles you found with no text might be available for free reading here!

Google Shared Stuff http://www.google.com/s2/sharing/resources/static/html/help.htmlGoogle's answer to del.icio.us allows you to create a Shared Stuff page, email the page, with a custom message, or post the page to other social bookmarking sites.