Nowadays, we depend on the internet when
searching for information. We generally look for data, images, ideas, etc.
online; we google everything we’ve got doubts about; we don’t usually have books
as our main source of information. However, not all websites are reliable. Our
first practical work at ECO II was about evaluating and selecting websites.
We dealt with a list of criteria that,
according to the British Council, we need to take into account so as to know
whether a website is reliable or not. Some of the criteria were:
- Accuracy: It makes reference to whether the information seems accurate, whether it is based on opinion or facts, whether it contains external references and whether it is updated.
- Authority and coverage: It refers to the author, the sources of the information, its objectivity and the presence of advertising.
- Audience and relevance: It talks about the audience the website aims at.
- Educational focus: It refers specifically to whether the website has educational purposes and caters for all learning styles.
- Ease of use: It makes reference to whether the page is easy to access, its format, menu and design in general.
Although I generally take most of these factors
into account when looking for information, I personally pay attention to the
last criterion, the design of the website. I generally decide whether a page is
trust-worthy by having a look at its colours, its pictures, its fonts, its
organisation. It works for me! J
A little bit of humour to close…
