Many criteria should be taken into consideration while browsing the net. First of all, there are differences between the sites ( .com : commercial/ .gov: government/ .org: organisation/ etc..). As teachers, educationalists, the sites (.org) are of paramount importance. Nonetheless, we may log into .com sites and find they are so useful too. Hence, a good evaluation of the sites shall take into consideration these criteria:
1-Accuracy and Acceptance
✓ Does the information appear to be accurate?
✓ Is it based on opinion or fact?
✓ Are additional references given?
✓ Can the information be verified from other sources, whether online or hard copy?
✓ Is the spelling and grammar correct?
✓ Is the content dated?
✓ When was the content last updated?
✓ Are all links up-to-date and valid?
✓ Are any areas of the site "under construction"?
2-Authority and coverage
✓ Does the content have authority?
✓ Where does the content originate from?
✓ Is it clear who is the author and publisher of the site?
✓ Are they qualified to provide information on this topic?
✓ Is the material biased?
✓ Can the author be contacted?
✓ 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 it provide links and references to other materials?
✓ If links to other materials are provided, are these evaluated or annotated to provide further information?
✓ Does the site contain any advertising? Does this influence the content?
3-Audience and Relevance
✓ 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?
✓ 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?
4-Educational Focus
✓ 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?
5-Ease of use:
✓ Is the site easy to sue?
✓ Is the site well structured?
✓ Is it easy to find relevant information?
✓ 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?
✓ Does the site load quickly?
✓ Is the site attractive in design?
✓ Is the content copyright, or can it be used providing the source is acknowledged?
✓ Is the site technically stable?