Introduction
Have you ever had to do a research project? How do you know if your sources are true and valid? It is important that you read intelligently because anyone can put up a website that is false or misleading. Some websites may seem to have information that you can use but when you compare the information with other sources, you find that there might be errors. What questions should you ask to determine if a site is real or fake? reliable or a hoax? This WebQuest is to help you evaluate your sources and determine if the website you choose has credibility.
Task
In this WebQuest, you will learn how to evaluate a Website to see if the information is valid or if the information is a hoax. Using a Web Page Evaluation Checklist, you will decide if the webpage is trustworthy. After visiting each website, you will decide if the information can be used for research or if the site is fake. On each site, you must state whether you believe it is real or fake and why.
Process
Use the following link to view a pdf link of questions to use to evaluate your Websites to see if the Websites are valid:
For full credit, you should visit at least four of the following websites and complete the web page evaluation checklist for each of the sites.
Use your checklist to evaluate the sites to decide whether they are valid or a hoax:
Moonbeam Enterprises
Dog Island
California Gold Rush
Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
Giant Squid
Dihydrogen Monoxide Website
All About Christopher Columbus
Evaluation
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Beginning |
Developing |
Qualified |
Exemplary |
Score |
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Website Evaluation Items |
Included one item to use for evaluating Websites. |
Included two or three items to use for evaluating Websites. |
Included four or five items to use for evaluating Websites. |
Included six or more items to use for evaluating Websites. |
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|
Website Evaluation #1 |
Evaluated the Website using incorrect criteria and identified it as real or fake incorrectly. |
Evaluated the Website using little of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using some of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
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Website Evaluation #2 |
Evaluated the Website using incorrect criteria and identified it as real or fake incorrectly. |
Evaluated the Website using little of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using some of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
|
|
Website Evaluation #3 |
Evaluated the Website using incorrect criteria and identified it as real or fake incorrectly. |
Evaluated the Website using little of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using some of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
|
|
Website Evaluation #4 |
Evaluated the Website using incorrect criteria and identified it as real or fake incorrectly. |
Evaluated the Website using little of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Evaluated the Website using some of the correct criteria and identified it as real or fake correctly. |
Description of identifiable performance characteristics reflecting the highest level of performance. |
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Mechanics |
More than 4 errors in spelling or grammar. |
Four misspellings and/or grammatical errors. |
Three or fewer misspellings and/or mechanical errors. |
No misspellings or grammatical errors. |
Conclusion
Conclusion
As you finish this Webquest, think back over the skills you have learned to help you decide whether a Website contains valid information. Hopefully, as you practiced your skills evaluating the Websites, you came to the following conclusions:
The first Website about the Haggis is not real.
The second Webiste about Moonbeam Enterprises is not real.
The third Website about Dog Island is not real.
The fourth Website about the California Gold rush is real.
The fifth Website about the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus is not real.
The sixth Website about the Giant Squid is real.
The seventh Website about Dihydrogen Monoxide is about water, so it is real, but it is presented in way that makes water seem like something else.
The eighth Website about Christopher Columbus was designed by teachers to make you check your facts - some information is valid but some is incorrect. It is not a site that could be used for accurate research.
Please remember to use your skills of deduction and the checklist of questions to evaluate the Websites you visit in the future.