The document provides criteria for evaluating the reliability and usefulness of information found on websites. It suggests considering who wrote the website, why it was created, how recently it was updated, whether the reading level is appropriate, and if the information is relevant and helps answer questions. Key questions to ask include whether the author is reliable, if the site has a bias, and when it was last updated.

1. Website Evaluation

2. Who wrote it?
Before we use a website for locating information, we need to
make sure that we can answer 'Yes'to all these questions:
If one person has produced the website, am I certain that the
person is reliable? Yes/No
If a company or an organization has produced the website, is
it a company or organization that I have heard of and can
trust, or that someone I respect has heard of and can trust?
Yes/No
Is there a Contact page, or some other way that I can contact
the person or organization behind the website (e-mail,
phone number or postal address)? Yes/No
Anyone can put information on the internet – the author/creator is not
necessarily an expert.

3. Why has the website been set up?
Is it commercial? (Is it trying to sell me
something?)
Is it biased? (Is it trying to change the way I think?)
Is it fundedby the Government, or by a charity, to
provide an information service?
Remember, if a website is commercial, or biased
towards a particular viewpoint, the information on
it might still be useful - but we need to be awareof
these things.

4. How up to date is the website?
Does the site tell me when it was last
updated?
Was it updated recently?
(The last updated date is usually at the bottom
of the page.)

5. Do I understand it?
Don't waste time on a site that has a reading level
that is too advanced. Decide quickly whether it is
suitable or not.
Before using a book, you will look at the language
level and decide whether it is too difficult.
You will look at how long it is.
You will check whether there are pictures or
diagrams that help explain the text.
Do this with websites too!

6. Is the information useful?
Does the site give me information that helps
me to answer my questions?
Is it relevant to my inquiry?
Does it help me to understand more about
the unit theme?
What makes the site easy to use?