What Makes a Good Website?        

Designed by

Elizabeth Winningham and Connie Workman

Last Updated January 2005 by Trisha Armstrong

Introduction

This unit was developed to teach fifth and sixth grade students how to look critically at websites and evaluate them according to certain criteria.  This exercise was designed to be used after an introduction to websites.

The Task

You will gain an understanding of basic evaluation terms and how to use them when evaluating websites.  By the end of the exercise you will have printed and completed a worksheet that helps you evaluate four Internet sites.  If you need help getting started with computer basics visit Little Explorers first!

Access to Webster's Dictionary: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary for looking up words.  

·         accuracy

·         authority

·         bias

·         creativity

·         content

·         current

Internet Sites for Worksheet                                

1.      Site 1.

2.      Site 2.

3.      Site 3.

4.      Site 4.

   

 Print the following form for the above assignment.   

Name :_____________________                                  Homeroom:_________________

Internet Evaluation

Find the definitions of the following words:

  1. accuracy-
  2. authority-
  3. bias-
  4. currency-
  5. content-
  6. creativity-

Click on site 1 and answer the following questions.

URL address:

Information appeared quickly.

  5  

  4  

  3  

  2  

  1  

Page is colorful and interesting.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page has been updated recently. Date ______        

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page makes you want to explore further.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be found easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be contacted easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page contains more than one opinion.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page links to other useful sites.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Information is clearly labeled and organized.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Written text gives you useful information.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Click on site 2 and answer the following questions.

URL address:

Information appeared quickly.

  5  

  4  

  3  

  2  

  1  

Page is colorful and interesting.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page has been updated recently. Date ______        

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page makes you want to explore further.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be found easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be contacted easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page contains more than one opinion.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page links to other useful sites.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Information is clearly labeled and organized.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Written text gives you useful information.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Click on site 3 and answer the following questions.

URL address:

Information appeared quickly.

  5  

  4  

  3  

  2  

  1  

Page is colorful and interesting.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page has been updated recently. Date ______        

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page makes you want to explore further.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be found easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be contacted easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page contains more than one opinion.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page links to other useful sites.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Information is clearly labeled and organized.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Written text gives you useful information.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Click on site 4 and answer the following questions.

URL address:

Information appeared quickly.

  5  

  4  

  3  

  2  

  1  

Page is colorful and interesting.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page has been updated recently. Date ______        

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page makes you want to explore further.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be found easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Author of page can be contacted easily.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page contains more than one opinion.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Page links to other useful sites.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Information is clearly labeled and organized.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Written text gives you useful information.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

Conclusion:

In your own words explain what makes a good website. Be willing to discuss your answer with the class. Please write your answer neatly on the back of this page.

Notes to teachers

Students should already have a basic understanding of how a website works before using this Webquest.  This exercise should be done after the teacher has demonstrated how to find specific information on a website.   Students should be familiar with how to use links, where to find URL information, how to scroll through a site, highlighting information, and how to use the BACK button.