Critical+Evaluation+of+Online+Resources

== =What is: Critical Evaluation of Online Resources= Teachers must assess where their students are in relation to their computer and internet skills. Partnered with these skills is the need for students to critically evaluate the online sources they explore. According to Coiro,(2009), Students and teachers alike need to understand the following aspects of critical evaluation to in order to develop critically media literate learners.
 * Relevancy: the information’s level of importance to a particular reading purpose or stated information need
 * Accuracy: the extent to which information contains factual and updated details that can be verified by consulting alternative and/or primary sources
 * Reliability: the information’s level of trustworthiness based on information about the author and the publishing body
 * Bias (perspective): the position or slant toward which an author shapes information
 * Commercial bias: the extent to which information appears to be influenced by commercial interests for or against a certain product

=Why is it important to critical evaluation of online resources?= The New Literacies Research Team, reveals that proficient readers offline are not always proficient readers online and additional reading comprehension skills are necessary to be a successful online reader. Today, new online reading comprehension skills have profound consequences for instruction as reading has moved from page to screen. These new literacies have redefined many aspects of traditional comprehension instruction. Teachers must help students develop skills required to effectively critique information they read, view or listen to on the Internet. (Leu, 2008) = = = = =Critical Evaluation Activities= = = = = = =

I. Author Bias and Purpose

 * 1) Using search strategies discussed in earlier modules, search and select a video and website about the BP OIL SPILL.

II. Critically Evaluate

 * 1) Identify the general and specific purpose(s) of your selected website and video. Please provide at least two reasons to support your answer.

For example - when detecting evidence of bias, ask yourself: Does the video provide factual information? …try to persuade you to think or feel a certain way? …try to sell you something? …try to raise money or collect donations?What is the author’s stance? Who's perspective is missing?

2. Turn to a partner and explain the author's bias and purpose of the website.

= = = = =Additional resources for critical evaluation of online resources:= http://www.newliteracies.uconn.edu/iesproject/ = = Online workshop and handouts to support aspects of critical evaluation including evaluating relevancy, accuracy, reliability, and perspective can be found HERE.

= = = = = = = = =References: = Coiro, J. (2009). [|Instructional Strategies for Critically Evaluating Online Information].

Leu, D. J., Jr., Coiro, J., Castek, J., Hartman, D. K., Henry, L. A., & Reinking, D. (2008).Research on instruction and assessment of the new literacies of online reading comprehension]]. In C. C. Block, S. Parris, and P. Afflerbach, (Eds.), //Comprehension instruction: Research-based best practices (pp. 321-346)//. New York: Guilford Press.

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