Source

 Who is the author?

 If the page is not signed, is there another way to trace it's sponsor?

Purpose
 Why is the author hosting the website?
 Is the purpose to promote a cause or share scholarly materials?
 Does the purpose make the information biased?

Information
 Is the information current?

Domain
 Is the organizational source of the
website commercial (.com), military (.mil), education (.edu), organization (.org), or
some other domain?

Educational
 How in-depth is the material?
 Is it a hoax or silly?

Reliable
 Can the same information be found on other websites or in other materials?

by Dr. Tom Johnson

tjohnson@mail.hockaday.org
Technology Integration Specialist
The Hockaday School
3.22.10
Name: _____________________________________________ Date:____________________________

I can evaluate websites!

with

S.P.I.D.E.R.
Website Evaluation
URL (example: www.cnn.com): _______________________________________________________
Title of Site:
_______________________________________________________________________

Source:
Who is the author?
______________________________________________________________
If no author is listed, who is responsible for the site?
_______________________________

Purpose:
Why is the host sharing this information?
__________________________________________
Is the information biased (one-sided)? If so, how is it biased?
_________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Information:
When was the site last updated?
_________________________________________________
If no date is listed, how current and correct is the information?
______________________
Domain:
Is it a trustworthy domain (.gov, .mil, .edu, .org) or something else?
__________________

Educational:
How well and how fully does the author explain the information?
____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Is the site a hoax or silly? Does it appear to be something it’s not?
___________________

Reliable:
Do other resources give similar information that helps verify the site’s
information?
If so, what are those resources? (Website URL or Book Title)
_____________________________________________________________________________
SO, is this website suitable for you to use?
Yes_____ NO_____
Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________ Date:____________________________

I can evaluate websites!

with

S.P.I.D.E.R.
Website Evaluation
URL (example: www.cnn.com): _______________________________________________________
Title of Site:
_______________________________________________________________________

Source:
Who is the author?
______________________________________________________________
If no author is listed, who is responsible for the site?
_______________________________

Purpose:
Why is the host sharing this information?
__________________________________________
Is the information biased (one-sided)? If so, how is it biased?
_________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Information:
When was the site last updated?
_________________________________________________
If no date is listed, how current and correct is the information?
______________________
Domain:
Is it a trustworthy domain (.gov, .mil, .edu, .org) or something else?
__________________

Educational:
How well and how fully does the author explain the information?
____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Is the site a hoax or silly? Does it appear to be something it’s not?
___________________

Reliable:
Do other resources give similar information that helps verify the site’s
information?
If so, what are those resources? (Website URL or Book Title)
_____________________________________________________________________________
SO, is this website suitable for you to use?
Yes_____ NO_____
Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________ Date:____________________________

I can evaluate websites!

with

S.P.I.D.E.R.
Website Evaluation
URL (example: www.cnn.com): _______________________________________________________
Title of Site:
_______________________________________________________________________

Source:
Who is the author?
______________________________________________________________
If no author is listed, who is responsible for the site?
_______________________________

Purpose:
Why is the host sharing this information?
__________________________________________
Is the information biased (one-sided)? If so, how is it biased?
_________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Information:
When was the site last updated?
_________________________________________________
If no date is listed, how current and correct is the information?
______________________
Domain:
Is it a trustworthy domain (.gov, .mil, .edu, .org) or something else?
__________________

Educational:
How well and how fully does the author explain the information?
____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Is the site a hoax or silly? Does it appear to be something it’s not?
___________________

Reliable:
Do other resources give similar information that helps verify the site’s
information?
If so, what are those resources? (Website URL or Book Title)
_____________________________________________________________________________
SO, is this website suitable for you to use?
Yes_____ NO_____
Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________ Date:____________________________

I can evaluate websites!

with

S.P.I.D.E.R.
Website Evaluation
URL (example: www.cnn.com): _______________________________________________________
Title of Site:
_______________________________________________________________________

Source:
Who is the author?
______________________________________________________________
If no author is listed, who is responsible for the site?
_______________________________

Purpose:
Why is the host sharing this information?
__________________________________________
Is the information biased (one-sided)? If so, how is it biased?
_________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Information:
When was the site last updated?
_________________________________________________
If no date is listed, how current and correct is the information?
______________________
Domain:
Is it a trustworthy domain (.gov, .mil, .edu, .org) or something else?
__________________

Educational:
How well and how fully does the author explain the information?
____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Is the site a hoax or silly? Does it appear to be something it’s not?
___________________

Reliable:
Do other resources give similar information that helps verify the site’s
information?
If so, what are those resources? (Website URL or Book Title)
_____________________________________________________________________________
SO, is this website suitable for you to use?
Yes_____ NO_____
Why or why not?
________________________________________________________________________________________________