The internet is a wonderful resource if you can separate the good information from the bad.  This skill station provides students with tools to evaluate the quality of the information they receive from web sites.

The internet is a hugely valuable information resource, but for every good web site there are many sites offering questionable information.  What criteria do you use to sift through the trash?  Criteria for rating the quality of web information is as easy as CARS:

Credibility.  Is this a trustworthy source (.gov, .edu, .org)?  What are the author’s credentials?  Is there evidence of quality control?  The goal is an authoritative source that supplies good evidence and allows you to trust it.

Accuracy.  Is the information up to date, factual, detailed, exact, and comprehensive?  Is there anything on the web page that strikes you as unbelievable?  When was the site last updated?  The goal is to find a source that is correct today (not yesterday) and gives the whole truth.

Reasonableness.  Is the web site fair?  Does it offer both sides of the issue?  Does it offer a balanced, objective look at the subject?  The goal is to find a source that engages the subject thoughtfully and reasonably and is primarily concerned with the truth.

Support.  Does the web site list other sources of information and contact information? Is there a list of citations?  The goal is to find convincing evidence for the claims made.

Review the following web articles about calcium intake in our diets:

Web site 1: http://www.buycoralcalcium.com/coral_calcium_story.html

Web site 2: www.nap.edu/html/dri_calcium/

Rate these web sites using this scale and record your observations in the following table.

0=Poor

1=Good

2=Excellent

• Teaching Notes