Website Evaluation

Through this activity, I was able to meet the learning objectives of evaluating a website. It was a thorough process and it made me realize what items I need to be on the lookout for when I want to use a website in my class. Things like reliability of the author and bias of information are very important. If the author does not know a lot about a subject or if he posts false statements, I shouldn't bring his/her website into my class lesson.

I didn't realize how many steps there were when evaluating a website. There are 7 areas that should be obvious when it comes to educational websites: reliability of the author, reliability of the publishing body, bias of information, accuracy of information, currency of information, design of interface, and accessibility. Since I am familiar with what each of these means, I know what to look for when evaluating a website.

This process can be somewhat tedious but it is something that should never be undermined. Anyone can create a website and post information, but as teachers, we must be aware of this. We should make sure that the websites we show in class can be accessible to those with disabilities. Websites can enhance the learning experience and can assist students in their acquisition of knowledge.

Overall, I thought this was a great activity and I really learned a lot. I look forward to sharing my website evaluation with others and receiving recommendations on websites to use one day when I am a teacher.