Evaluating Websites
Tantasqua Regional High School
Updated September 12, 2006

Lesson Plan

Target audience: freshmen students
Total time: 2 blocks, 84 minutes each

Purpose: This unit will teach students to evaluate websites using defined criteria.

School-wide expectation: Students will analyze information in a discerning manner.

Day 1:

Student objectives:

Analyze assigned websites using defined criteria
Present findings to the entire class

Strategies:

1. Together, the teacher and students will evaluate two online resources using defined criteria.

2. The class will divide into groups. Each group will choose one of the topics listed below. Each group will discuss the sites listed under its topic and will analyze the sites using defined criteria. (Some of the sites are bogus. Some are not. Some have a bias and some do not.)

3. Each group will present its findings to the entire class.

Day 2:

Student objectives:

Students will apply defined criteria to evaluate websites that they are using for an actual research assignment.


Strategies:

1. Students will locate websites relevant to their current research and evaluate them using defined criteria.
2. If time allows, students may present findings to the entire class.

Materials and supplies:

Online unit
Computers
LCD projector
Website Evaluation Tool

Assessment of student performance: The teacher may determine the method of assessment. One possibility is to use the portion of the school-wide rubric that deals with evaluation of information.

Assessment of curriculum: Alignment with school-wide expectations and with K-12 Information Skills Benchmarks

Topics: The topics are listed under the student assignment.