Evaluating and Selecting Websites

Where is the content published? What is the domain name of the website? Is it published by a large organisation, or on a personal website?

Does the website cover the topic fully?

Does the site provide information/advice/ideas/other choices?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevancee

• Educational focus

• Ease of use

Is there an explicit educational focus to the content?

Will it support learners with different learning styles? How does it use media to cater for people with auditory, visual, kinaesthetic or other preferences?

Does it have links, or refer to, the appropriate stages of the National Curriculum or examination body?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Educational focus

• Ease of use

Does the information appear to be accurate?

Is it based on opinion or fact?

Are additional references given?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Audience and relevance

• Authority and coverage

• Educational focus

• Ease of use

Is the site specifically aimed at adults? If so, beware of inappropriate material.

Is the content relevant? Does the material provide everything that is needed?

Could more relevant material be found elsewhere, for example in a book or magazine?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Educational focus

• Ease of use

Does the content have authority?

Where does the content originate from?

Is it clear who is the author and publisher of the site?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Ease of use

• Educational Focus

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

Can the information be verified from other sources, whether online or hard copy?

Is the spelling and grammar correct?

Is the content dated?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Ease of use

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Educational focus

Can the information be verified from other sources, whether online or hard copy?

Is the spelling and grammar correct?

Is the content dated?

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Audience and relevance

• Educational focus

• Authority and coverage

• Ease of use

Is the content in an easy to use format?

What facilities does the site provide to help locate information?

Does it have a search facility? Is the menu navigation logical? Does it provide a site map or index?

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Ease of use

• Educational focus

• Accuracy and acceptance

Who is the intended audience for this content?

Is the content easy to read and understand?

Is the site specifically aimed at children? If so, is the level and tone of the content appropriate?

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Ease of use

• Educational focus

When was the content last updated?

Are all links up-to-date and valid?

Are any areas of the site ‘under construction’?

• Authority and coverage

• Audience and relevance

• Accuracy and acceptance

• Ease of use

• Educational focus