Re: WWW sites

[Doug Johnson <palsdaj@VAX1.MANKATO.MSUS.EDU>]

Hi folks,

Twice this fall I have been asked to give talks on "The Best of the
Internet for Kids." After only very short consideration, I decided that
this was an extremely daunting task. With the thousands (hundreds of
thousands?, millions?) of Web sites alone available, any short list which
could be shared would have to be eclectic indeed, and probably shortly out
of date! I compare giving such a talks as being asked to "booktalk a
library."

It is certainly possible to share some exemplary sites for young people,
whether those sites have been created specifically for young folks or are
adult sites which are of use and interest. It's also profitable, I believe,
to list a few "jump sites" to child- or school-oriented materials on the
Internet. I suspect we all have our favorites like Uncle Bob's.

I submit, however, that in our roles as "instructional consultants," we as
library/media specialists should helping teachers and students develop
usable evaluative standards for Internet resources instead of just pointing
to good ones. Haven't we always prided ourselves on teaching folks how to
fish rather than simply providing the fish?

Below are a few standards I quickly laid out for evaluating good WWW sites
that I share when asked to give "best of the Internet" talks. This list is
by no means exclusive, and you'll quickly note that some of the standards
apply to all information resources.

1) Does the source have some subject authority? Is there actual content at
the site?
2) Can the source be judged impartial? (With all the commercial pages being
written, this is a critical question.)
3) Is the information timely? Does the page have the date of last revision
posted?
4) Is the site age appropriate for content and vocabulary?
5) Is the site well organized? Are there links back to the home page from
lower level pages?
6) Are the links on the page relevant to the subject?
7) Does the site preserve bandwidth by using thumbnail graphics of large
picture files, and use graphics for information, not just for visual
appeal?

Developing "selection" standards for Internet sites seems a natural for our
profession.

Happy time off! Have a second piece of pumpkin pie for me.

Doug


Doug Johnson, District Media Supervisor  | Be not simply good;
I.S.D. 77, Mankato Public Schools        | be good for something.
Box 8713, Mankato MN 56002-8713          |        -Thoreau
Voice: 507-387-7698                      |
Fax: 507-387-2496                        |
E-mail: palsdaj@vax1.mankato.msus.edu    |
or:     djohns1@west.isd77.k12.mn.us
http://www.isd77.k12.mn.us/staffdir/staff2/Johnson_Doug.html