Site Evaluation Criteria

The Just In Time Training (JITT) project has based its evaluation criteria on the ten characteristics of a good Web site found in the SDSU/PacBell Fellows Blue Web'n Applications Evaluation Rubric. Our thanks for their permission to include excerpts here. We've added some specific qualities that we think are important to consider in the evaluation process.

Sites are categorized by type of application: Tool, Resource, Reference, Lesson, Activity, or Project. For definitions of application types and some specific examples, see Blue Web'n - Brief Definition of Applications.

Sites are evaluated and rated on these desired characteristics:

• Format is user friendly.
• Format is courteous.
• Format is aesthetically appealing.
• Content is credible.
• Content is useful.
• Content is rich.
• Content is interdisciplinary.
• Learner process includes higher-order thinking.
• Learner process is engaging.
• Learner process engages multiple intelligences or talents.

There is a total possible score of 20 points, 2 for each desired characteristic. Tools, references, and resources are not scored on learner process; scores for these types of applications are weighted so that there are still 20 points possible.

Scoring an application

Identify the type of application. Tools, resources, and references are not scored on learner process. Use the weighted scoring for these (add six points to the total score). For each desired characteristic, score 0 points for a "poor" rating, 1 point for a "good" rating, and 2 points for an "excellent" rating.

Always include a brief description of the application. Indicate unique qualities, search options, suggested uses, appropriate grade level or target audience. This will help teachers and other reviewers identify potential uses for the site.

Go to Evaluation Checklist.

Rating an application

17-20 points	Excellent.
13-16 points	Very good.
9-12 points	Beware of rough spots.
0-8 points	A waste of time.

We select an application for inclusion on our Web site based on its rating. We generally include only applications that were rated "excellent" or "very good," although occasionally there's a compelling reason to include an application that received a lower rating.

Our aim is to provide a collection of high-quality applications that will help teachers learn about the Web and how to use it effectively in the classroom.

As you explore the Web, you'll find other excellent sites. Please feel free to use or adapt this checklist to help you and your students evaluate sites for your own library of "best" applications.

For more information

Alexander, Jan, and Marsha Tate. Evaluating Web Resources.
http://www2.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial-Library/webevaluation/webeval.htm, 1999.

American Association of School Librarians (AASL). ICONnect: Curriculum Connections.
http://www.ala.org/ICONN/evaluate.html, 1998.

Kirk, Elizabeth E. Evaluating information found on the Internet.
http://www.library.jhu.edu/elp/useit/evaluate/, 1996.

Rinaldi, Arlene. The Net: User Guidelines and Netiquette.
http://www.fau.edu/netiquette/net/, 1998.

Portions of this document are excerpted from Blue Web'n Applications Evaluation Rubric and Blue Web'n - Brief Definition of "Applications," copyright 1996 Pacific Bell. Permission granted.