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Content by jeweber, jill_weber@terc.edu http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/webwebevalje.html Last revised Wed Sep 24 11:35:25 US/Pacific 2003 |
created by jeweber
Introduction | The Task | The Process & Resources | Conclusion | HyperText Dictionary
Picture this: you and a team of learners are presented with the task of describing an elephant. But instead of looking to an encyclopedia or a zoo exhibit, you are each blindfolded and guided to a real elephant. Each of you touches a different part of the animal: one, the soft and delicate tip of the elephant's trunk; another, the hard tusk of ivory; and a third, the wrinkled hide around the elephant's belly.
Based upon what each of you learned, one thinks an elephant is smooth and soft, another would say an elephant is smooth and hard, while the last would conclude that elephants are rough and soft. What's the truth? When we study complex topics, we are often like the elephant examiners: there's usually a lot more to a topic that we don't learn about after only a quick exploration.
This is particularly true when we use the Internet for our research because many people post their personal opinions or only know a sliver of the whole story. Many web sites are commercial in nature; that is, they are trying to sell something at the same time that they are presenting information. Many sites are created by organizations with hidden (or not so hidden) agendas and/or messages.
As researchers, you will turn to the Internet more and more often as you conduct research. You will have little trouble finding information...in face, you may be overwhelmed by it. Your challenge will be filtering out the 'good' stuff from the 'bad' stuff and the 'ugly' stuff...or deciding which is the real information and which is the clone.
In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork and specific resources from the Internet to research the topic of cloning. You will be asked to filter out the good information from that information which may lead you astray. Each person on your team will look at the web sites with a different 'lens', choosing the one web site they feel is most representative of the criteria they were given. Then you will come together as a team to cast your vote for the 'surviving' web site.
NOTE TO TEACHERS: This WebQuest may be conducted with any relevant curriculum topic. It is up to us as educators to help students understand that the quality of information on the Internet varies greatly. The Internet has no 'filter' for quality, taste or reliability. It we are to maintain high expectations of student research efforrts and their information products, we need to offer them guidance and practice in the thoughtful evaluation of sources. We must help them become 'critical consumers of information.'
Which one of the selected web sites represents the best information on the topic of cloning, according to the criteria you were assigned as a specialist?
In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of fellow researchers. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group, you will explore selected webpages on the topic of 'cloning'. These are real webpages we're tapping into, not just things made for schools.
You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background information before diving into roles. Then, people on your team will evaluate the web sites based on specific criteria assigned to their role.
Use the Internet information linked below to gain some basic understanding about the evaluation of web site content. When you have reviewed this information, you're ready to work as a team to evaluate web sites that deal with the topic of cloning.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below.
2. Each pair of researchers will examine the web sites listed below. You should consider the content of each site according to the specific criteria you are responsible for examining.
3. Rank each web site according to the criteria. Choose one or two sites that you feel provide the best information on the topic of cloning, based on your criteria. Choose one or two sites that you would avoid if you do further research on this topic, again based on your specific criteria.
4. Be prepared to defend your choices when your group comes back together. Come to a consensus within your group as to the best one or two sites.
5. As a class, discuss the groups' choices. Was there consistency among the different specialists? Among the different groups?
Content Specialist
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Content Specialist:
1. Does the site cover the topic of cloning accurately? Comprehensively?
2. Does the information appear to be error-free? (no misspellings, etc.)
3. Can you understand what is being said? Is it written above or below your level of understanding?
4. What is unique about this site? Does it offer something other sites do not?
5. Are the links well-chosen? Sufficient?
6. Judge the currency. Can you answer the following questions: When was the information created? What is the publication date of the web site? When was the information last revised? Do these dates matter in terms of information about cloning?
Authority/Credibility Specialist
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Authority/Credibility Specialist:
1. Who is responsible for this site?
2. What are his/her credentials?
3. Have the authors of the site cited their own sources?
4. Can you contact (via email, phone or mail) the author of the page?
5. Is there a sponsor of the page? If so, is the sponsor credible? Reputable?
6. Is there a link to information about the author?
7. What is the domain name? Does it end in .com? .gov? .edu? .org?
8. Is the web site representative of the entire organization/university/company? Or is a personal page being housed on a larger organizational server?
9. Would you include this site on your citation list?
Bias/Purpose Specialist
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Bias/Purpose Specialist:
1. Why was this site created? Is it a personal. commercial, government, educational or organizational site?
2. Is there any bias? Is only one side of information about cloning presented? Is there a hidden message? Is it trying to persuade you or change your opinion? Is the bias useful to you in some way?
3. Can you distinguish facts from opinion?
4. Is there any advertising on the page? Is it relevant to the topic of cloning? Is the advertising trying to inform your opinion?
5. Would you include this site on your citation list?
Usability/Design Specialist
Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to Usability/Design Specialist:
1. Is the site easy to navigate? (user-friendly?)
2. Is the site attractive/appealing? Does it make you want to explore further?
3. Are links clearly labeled? Do they serve a purpose?
4. Are graphics helpful, or a distraction? Are the pages clean and uncluttered, or do they get in the way of the information?
5. Are there errors in spelling or grammar?
6. Do the links on the site work?
7. Does information download efficiently enough to keep you interested?
8. Would you include this site on your citation list?
You have all learned about a different part of Web Evaluation. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.
You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter to the authors of each web site that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:
1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.
2. Explain that you were conducting research on the topic of cloning, and that you looked to their site for information. Describe why you felt their site was helpful, or why you were disappointed by the quality of the site and by the information contained in the site.
STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.
3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).
4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the email message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.Your Contact is: the designated contact
So is an elephant smooth, rough, soft, or hard? Well, when you're blindfolded and only *looking* at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for evaluating web-based information about a particular topic such as cloning. You shouldn't assume that all information you find on the Internet is totally accurate. You must think about the information you find and compare it to what you already know about the topic. You must look at each web site and consider the content, the author's credibility, the purpose of the web site, and the ease of use.
Next time you do research on the Internet, think of this experience. Consider the content. Consider the source. Think about what you already know. Be thoughtful in your evaluation of the sources you use. And be sure you're a critical consumer of Internet information.
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Content by jeweber, jill_weber@terc.edu http://www.kn.sbc.com/wired/fil/pages/webwebevalje.html Last revised Wed Sep 24 11:35:25 US/Pacific 2003 |