REAL

REAL The following is based on, //[|Web Literacy for Educators]// by Alan November//.// Further information can be found at [|November Learning]

//Scenario// - you are high school students researching an indigenous culture and have chosen Head Hunters to research. You have come across the site, [|History of the Shuar] and begin to determine if it is REAL.

[|Read the URL] - what does it tell you?

 * What is the domain name - is it familiar?
 * What is the extension in the domain name? - what clue does it give?
 * Are you on a personal web page? How do you know?

**Examine the content.**

 * Does the content apply to your topic? Is it useful? - why or why not?
 * Do the links work?
 * Is it current?
 * Is the information accurate? How would you find out? Hint: [|triangulation]
 * Does the author cite sources or document original work?

[|Ask about the author AND owner.]Who wrote/created the content and who owns the site?

 * [|Easywhois] and/or [|DomainTools]
 * [|Wayback Machine]
 * Remember - //triangulation//

**[|Look at the links]**

 * Where do the **forward links** take you? Do the domain names change?
 * **Backwards links**. Use the [|Link: strategy]to find the backwards links.
 * Who is linked to the web site? Why are they linked?
 * What do other sites have to say about the material on the site?

Would you use this site for a high school research project? Why or why not?
 * FINAL Analysis**

W//eb sites to use with your students// - (please any that you may have used and would recommend)
 * More information** about evaluating web sites can be found at [| Teaching for Information Literacy]
 * Alan November's list of [|Web Sites to Validate]