A Checklist to Use When Assessing Resources
ELECTRONIC RESOURCES:
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Check the URL/Domain name:
Is it familiar? Is it a .edu or.gov. site? Is it an academic site?
Authorship/Knowledge of publishing body:
Is there an author? Who is the author? Do they have any credentials listed? Do they
have a professional title attached to their name and is it verifiable? Is the group who has
posted well known? Valid? Unbiased? Academic?
Bias:
Is the source free of bias? If not, have you chosen another source to display the other
perspective?
Referral to other resources:
Does the site refer to other sources? Are these sources easily accessed? Are they also
valid sources?
Verifiability/Integrity:
Is the information posted confirmable- is it possible to demonstrate that what is listed is
truth/fact?
Currency:
How recent was the item posted on the internet? Is it outdated?
Themes:
Does the source fit nicely with your current lessons, or is it a stretch?
Validity:
Will the students see the importance and be able to relate it to their selves?
Purpose:
Question why the page was placed on the web to help determine its validity or bias
PRINT RESOURCES:
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Value:
Is this text valuable for the personal growth of the student? Will it help in promoting
self-esteem?
Sensitive/Controversial:
Does the material cover controversial issues to spark conversation and critical thinking
and is the material sensitive to controversial issues, or is it simply sensational?
Bias:
Is the text free of bias, and stereotyping? Does it include representation of all
minorities, genders, culture in positive roles?
Suitability:
Is the text suitable for the grade and level of your learners? Check ministry and
Curriculum documents
Types of Learners:
Will the text have the potential to reach many learners at different levels or is it targeted
toward one type of learner?
Cost/Relevance:
What is the cost? Is it worth buying for a long period of time, or will it need to be
replaced too soon?
Variety:
Does your classroom have a variety of different types of text (magazines, cartoons,
pictures, reference, novels) or are you purchasing the same kinds repeatedly?
Integration:
Is it likely that the text can be integrated across different subject areas, or will it only be
use din one area?
Visual appeal:
Does the text have pictures? Bold letters? Is it well displayed/organized? Is it easy to
navigate? Will it appeal to junior level learners visually?
USEFUL SITES:
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a Webquest about Evaluating Websites:
http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/evalwebstu.html
the UC Berkeley Library Evaluating Web Pages:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.htm
the British site Quick: The Quality Information Checklist
http://www.quick.org.uk/teachers2.htm
Queen's University's Guide, Evaluating Web Information:
http://library.queensu.ca/inforef/tutorials/qcat/evalint.htm
Criteria for Evaluating Web Sites
http://www.library.dal.ca/how/method.htm