Skip Navigation

Web Site Evaluations

Time Frame

2 class periods of 60 minutes each

Group Size

Individual

Life Skills

  • Thinking & Reasoning
  • Communication

Authors

Lori Rasmussen
Luke Rasmussen

Summary

Students should learn how to evaluate a Web age and it's information. Many Websites seem like they are legitimate, but they are not. This Lesson will educate students on bogus Websites and help them to know the difference between legitimate and bogus Websites.


Materials

Computer Lab, Websites and their descriptions are listed below.


Background for Teachers

Teachers need to be familiar with Website evaluation. What is the difference between .com, and .gov. etc.


Student Prior Knowledge

Basic use of Internet.


Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will compare and contrast bogus and legitimate Websites.
Students will evaluate Websites content.


Instructional Procedures

Websites

  • Eternal Life
    Alex Chiu claims to have the invention to allow eternal life
  • Feline Reactions to Bearded Men
    This looks real, but once you start reading it you will see it is made up.
  • Inreach Internet
    The velcro crop is threatened in California, and other wacky facts. Be careful this one can really fool you. Students need to hit the icons at the top of the page to get to the wacky facts.
  • The Whitehouse
    The real Whitehouse home page
  • The Worst of the Web
    Posts 3 bad Websites daily.
  • Whitehouse Web Page
    This is a bogus Website about the real Whitehouse page www.whitehouse.gov. Have students review both pages and choose which one is the correct cite.

Give students a brief overview lecture on Website evaluation. Explain to students that there are a lot of Bogus Websites that seem legitimate, but are not. Explain to students that anyone can publish anything to .com and .net Web addresses. The Web address .gov is reserved for government entities and are therefore more credible. The Web address .org is for non-profit organizations and is usually more credible than .com or .net addresses.

Then have students log onto the Internet to review these bogus Websites that seem real. Don't tell students that they are all fake; have students make the decision for themselves and record them. When students are finished reviewing the Websites, orally review students results in an open discussion then explain to them that all of the Websites are bogus.

Next have student visit www.whitehouse.net and www.whitehouse.gov and have them decide which cite is the real whitehouse website.


Strategies for Diverse Learners

Challenge gifted students by giving them the choice to construct their own bogus Webpage on a poster board. The Webpage should pattern after a legitimate Webpage on the Internet.

Struggling students could be partnered with other students. Download a copy of the Websites onto a disc so struggling students can navigate to the Websites easier.

Spanish speaking students can explore the Whitehouse Webpages both are provided in Spanish.


Extensions

Have students navigate the Web to find bogus Websites on their own. Have students create their own bogus Webpage on a poster.


Assessment Plan

Have students type a one page double spaced summary, about their experience of the classroom activity and their understanding of Website evaluation.


Rubrics

Created: 01/11/2003
Updated: 02/02/2018
5334
/>