Thing #2 Evaluate Information

Taking into account my elementary audience, I used the Checklist for Evaluating Web Sites and Kathy Schrock’s Critical Evaluation Information form to evaluate a .gov site I found about Duke Kahanamoku. Intermediate elementary students will enjoy using the online form and can print and include it in their research packet. Kathy Schrock’s site is more appropriate for 2nd - 4th grade. I like the additional forms on the Teacher’s Helpers page such as The 5 W’s of Web Site Evaluation, Example Handout for the 5 W’s, and the educator lesson plan for Evaluation of a Web Page.

Before research begins in the library or classroom, librarians should prepare a lesson for students on evaluating websites (similar to this TEAMS tutorial) to give them the tools to learn the evaluation process. Including a website evaluation form in the research packet or a link to a form on the Internet for students to download and including an evaluation of websites as part of the grading rubric will help to make the evaluation process a natural part of the research project.