Introduction
Finding information on the Internet is exciting and can be lots of fun --- but how do you know if the facts, details, and information that you find are accurate, valid or true? Learn to be a more effective researcher by practicing the REV process.

Task
You will be introduced to the REV Process to use for this lesson and in the future. For various school assignments or projects you will use the REV Process which includes the following steps:

RESEARCH + EVALUATE + VALIDATE

For this particular Web Quest, the RESEARCH has been done for you. In other words, certain Web sites have already been selected for you to EVALUATE and VALIDATE. Have fun and learn much!

Process
1. First, individually complete the tutorial, "EVALUATING INTERNET SITES 101"-
http://library.albany.edu/usered/webeval/index.html
(Please take notes on the handout #1.)

2. Next, individually apply the knowledge you gained from the tutorial to determine whether the following two resources would be recommended for scholarly use. You will evaluate and validate the author, audience, scholarship, bias, currency, and links of each site using the handout #2 provided.
Be sure to write down your evidence or supporting details.

  a. Martin Luther King
http://www.martinlutherking.org/

b. UNITED for Intercultural Action -
http://www.united.non-profit.nl/

3. The third part of this project involves working together with a small group of your peers to EVALUATE and VALIDATE an assigned Web site. Also be prepared to explain your findings to the whole class.

Resources

1. Individual tutorial: http://library.albany.edu/usered/webeval/index.html

2. Individual EVALUATION and VALIDATION:

  a. Martin Luther King
http://www.martinlutherking.org/

b. UNITED for Intercultural Action -
http://www.united.non-profit.nl/

3. Small group assignment (your group will be assigned one of the sites listed):

 
  1. All About Explorers
    http://www.allaboutexplorers.com/
  2. Dihydrogen Monoxide
    http://www.dhmo.org/
  3. Improbable Research
    http://improbable.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html
  4. Mechanical Marvels Of The Nineteenth Century
    http://www.bigredhair.com/robots/index.html
  5. The Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
    http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus.html


Evaluation

1. Tutorial:
- notes will be checked
- raise your hand to be checked off for completion of each section test

2. Worksheets will be graded for Accuracy of Evaluation and Validation Evidence.

3. Groups will be evaluated for the class presentation using the rubric below:

Rubric for Small Group Presentation and Evidence
EVALUATION & VALIDATION of an Internet Site
Using the Following Criteria:

 
CRITERIA Accuracy of Evaluation

   Validation Evidence

  
  RATING SCALE:
3 = Accurate evaluation
0 = Inaccurate evaluation		  

RATING SCALE:
3 = Substantial evidence
2 = Some evidence
1 = Insufficient evidence
Author 3 0   3 2 1
Audience 3 0   3 2 1
Scholarship 3 0   3 2 1
Bias 3 0   3 2 1
Currency 3 0   3 2 1
Links 3 0   3 2 1
 
Subtotal _______/18 		+ Subtotal _______/18
= FINAL SCORE _______/36  

 

Conclusion
You have now learned one way to apply the REV Process (RESEARCH + EVALUATE + VALIDATE) to determine whether a particular web site meets academic standards of quality by checking out the author, audience, scholarship, bias, currency, and links. These same critical thinking skills can be applied to evaluate all information, such as electronic data, newspapers, media coverage, magazines, books, essays, editorials, speeches, etc. Our world is filled with resources and references, but it is up to you to be a wise consumer. So, whenever you RESEARCH and find information, be sure to EVALUATE and VALIDATE for responsible and intelligent decision making. Mahalo!