Website Evaluation
Website Evaluation
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It can be challenging for students to figure out if a website is credible or not. The simplest approach is to use the SIFT method and to do something called 'lateral reading'. This is when you check multiple different websites to verify if a fact is true and if the original source you want to use is trustworthy. It is a good idea to do some lateral reading before diving too deep on a single website.
The SIFT Method
The SIFT Method
S - Stop / Slow down
Before using or forwarding information ask yourself "is this reliable?". Is there an emotional response to this info? The internet and social media is full of misinformation because people are posting or creating content without verifying facts first.
I - Investigate
Search laterally for information on the claim or website. Go beyond the 'about us' page. It’s okay to use Google or Wikipedia to do this. By claim, I’m referring to whatever it is that the author is stating as true.
F - Find something better if needed
It's a good idea to build a list of sources that you know you can trust. For example, National Geographic and NASA are known reliable resources for scientific information.
T - trace the claim, quote, or image back to the original source.
Reliable websites should provide you with their sources. You can go into them to see if the author is accurately describing the original claim or if they are biased or just cherry picking information to support their own view. If they are, it might not be the best source for you.
Website Evaluation / Lateral Reading
Website Evaluation / Lateral Reading
To learn more about lateral reading as a form of website evaluation, view the two videos below. These videos will help you gain a better understanding of the importance of evaluating websites, how to determine a website's credibility through lateral reading, and provide you with some easy tools to do so. This set of videos comes from the Check, Please! Starter Course, an online course dedicated to helping students evaluate online information. You will be amazed at how quickly you will soon be able to evaluate websites once you learn a few simple techniques.
Video #1: Online Verification Skills - An Introduction
Video #2: Online Verification Skills - Investigate the Source
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