Evaluating and Using
Print and Media Resources

Below are three rubrics designed for different student age groups that you and your students can use to assess web sites. You can download and use these rubrics to help you evaluate the richness of web pages.

These rubrics should not be used every time students are using Internet resources. Instead, they should only be used as a tool to teach students what qualifies as rich online resources. Then as they use Internet resources, they can begin to identify why some web pages/web sites are better than others.

ACTIVITY 2:

Follow these steps for completing this activity:

1. Download and reproduce one of the following rubrics:
   1. Rubric for Primary Grades - Using 25 points, young children can begin learning how to assess the content of Internet information.
   2. Rubric for Intermediate Grades - This 50 point evaluation guide, is a step up from the primary rubric.
   3. Rubric for Secondary Grades - Using 100 points, students can use this evaluation tool to assess web site content.
2. Depending on the age of the students, spend 15-30 minutes introducing the content of the rubrics and how they should use this sheet to evaluate and score web site design.
3. Next, pre-select at least 2 or maybe 3 web sites that are appealing to the age of your students. Follow this suggested lesson plan:
   1. Introduce a web site to your class using a large monitor display. Because this is an introduction, it is best if the teacher has control over the navigation of the web site. As a group look over the web site for about 5-10 minutes. Encourage student discussion while you browse through the site's content.
   2. Review the web site elements on the Web Evaluation Rubric . Spend another 10-15 minutes re-evaluating the content found on that web site using the rubric.
   3. As a whole group, fill out the rubric for web site design.
4. Now that the entire class has filled out one web design assessment rubric, they are ready to do another. Depending on the age of the students in your class, they can evaluate the next web site as: a whole group, a small collaborative group, or individually. If this is not done as a whole group, take time for the small groups or individuals to share their scores with the entire class.
5. Have your students repeat this exercise several times during the school year. Once in a while, include a web site that has poor design elements to see if your students can identify what is missing.
6. Display a large poster of this rubric in your classroom for easy reference.

Resource Links Used to Create these Assessment Tools

Blue Web'n Site Evaluation Rubric

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/bluewebn/rubric.html

HyperTerriost Guide to WWW Design

http://www.robotwisdom.com/web/terrorist.html

Style Guide for Online Hypertext

http://www.w3.org/Provider/Style/

WDVL: Web Site Design

http://wdvl.internet.com/Authoring/Design/

Etiquette for Information Providers

http://www.w3.org/Provider/Style/Etiquette.html

Now go to Public Domain.....