North Middle School Media Center
Van Buren Public Schools, Belleville, Michigan

Information Literacy

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Criteria to Consider:

        1. Authority
            Who is the author? 
            Is the name of the copyright holder given?
            Is it clear who is sponsoring the page?
            Know your domains: .org, .gov, .edu, .com
            Is there evidence of possible bias?  (i.e. political or religious affiliation, nationality or race?)
            Pursue the links to find the author.
            Is the person qualified or knowledgeable?
            Why was the page published on the Internet?
            Is it a vanity page or does it offer valuable information?
            What are they selling?
            Do they have reputable affiliations?
            Is there an e-mail link, phone number and mailing address?
    2. Accuracy
            Check any "facts" in more than one source.
            Are there grammatical or spelling errors?
            Are there references or a bibliography to check?
    3. Currency
            What is the date the information was published or posted to the web?
            When was the page last revised?
            Statistics should clearly show the dates of the data and methods used.
    4. Has it been Reviewed?
            Magazines, journals and newspapers review web sites.
            Has the Web site received any awards?
            Has it been included in a Guide or Directory?
    5. Design / Ease of Use
            Does the site display properly?
            If there is advertising on the page is it out of the way? Are there pop-up menus?
            Have you been able to find specific information about this page easily?

• Fake INS Web sites trick immigrants - Green Card lottery applicants targeted by imposter page

• Fake web sites target disaster donors
   
• Pharming: Is your trusted Web site a clever fake?
   
• Why not wiki? It's truthy!

Learn to evaluate websites with Joe Cool & Joe Fool.

Are this websites Cool? or only good for a Fool?

Remember TO ask Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?

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