For this assignment, I chose to evaluate two websites on writing. I was recently appointed to a new writing committee in our corporation to examine our writing assessment scores and methods of teaching across the grade levels in hopes of improving our student's writing abilities (and AP scores). I am currently looking for valid writing websites to share information and professional development ideas with the committee.
Website: http://www.nwp.org/
Test 1 – URL: This is not a personal site. The domain is .org which signifies a non-profit organization. The publisher is the non profit organization known as the National Writing Project, or NWP as the URL states.
Test 2 – Who, When, What?:
This site does not have a personal author, but it does have an organization, the NWP, that claims responsibility for the page. The website shows a board of directors from across the United States and the colleges, school, or corporations they are associated with. There is also an address, phone, and fax numbers to contact the national office and a list of those senior managers as well. You can also find sites closer to you with a helpful map.
The site has a copyright date of 2011, which is current and up-to-date.
The credentials of the board of directors are very impressive and linked to major, well known colleges and universities. In the about history section, the NWP has been in function since 1974 and is funded with a core grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Test 3 – Quality Information Indicators: This site is linked to multiple resources about writing and literacy. The links I clicked on worked and seemed well organized and carefully chosen.
Test 4 – Others opinion:s
Alexa Ranking Information: Global Traffic Rank= 540,158, US Rank= 144,408,
Sites Linking In – 521
WaybackMachine shows the site began in 2003 and has been crawled 120 times.
Link Search shows 605 results. These linked sites seem to be mostly other writing project sites or personal blogs.
This site is listed several times in the About.com directory.
Test 5 – Why?: This site seems to have been put on the web as a way of releasing information on teaching reading and writing, research on these subjects, and more information on standards, assessments, and policy reform in these subject areas. I feel this is a very credible and useful resource with all of it’s components and credentials. However, there is a section where a viewer can contribute money to help support the organization. I think any reader would need to keep in mind that this is an organization with opinions and goals and be looking for any bias in articles and professional developments within the site.
Website:http://www.readwritethink.org/
Test 1 – URL: This is not a personal site either. The domain is .org which signifies that this too is a non-profit organization. The site has two publishers – The IRA, or International Reading Association, and the NCTE, or National Council of Teachers of English. These are well known associations in the education world.
Test 2 – Who, When, What?
This site does not have a personal author either. It has three organizations that oversee the site and its publications – the IRA, the NCTE, and Verizon Thinkfinity. In the about section, the website also shows lists of the authors who add content to the site, the advisors who offer insight and suggestions, and the reviewers from the IRA and NCTE. You can contact the organization through the website or the address provided.
The site has a copyright date of 2011, which is current and up-to-date.
The credentials of the authors, advisors, and reviewers are listed. They are often teachers, reading specialists, or professors. The history of the IRA and the NCTE are also listed.
Test 3 – Quality Information Indicators: This site is linked to both the IRA and the NCTE’s association websites. The sites are all impressive with the amount of information on each site. The information seems to be of a high quality with such a variety of organizations and people overseeing it.
Test 4 – Others opinions:
Alexa Ranking Information: Global Traffic Rank= 71,674; US Rank= 17,059;
Sites Linking In= 2,776
Wayback Machine shows the site began in 2002 and has been crawled 455 times.
Link Search shows 466 results. These linked sites seem to be mostly other organization sites, school websites, and personal blogs.
This site is listed in the About.com directory.
Test 5 – Why?: This site seems to have been placed on the web as a means of supporting teachers and parents who teach reading and writing skills to students. The site provides lesson plans and activities, as well as professional development for educators and helpful tips and games for parents. However, I think the reader does need to be aware that this website is backed by two organizations that have a chance to become a member within the site. Readers would need to consider this when reading and check for any bias.
*The UC Berkley Internet guide is a great source for students to learn how to use and help evaluate web information to ensure valid and reliable sources of information. It is easy to use and definitely helps the reader think critically about the site they are viewing and information they are considering using. I feel it would be over the heads of my second grade students who struggle to read text. I would mostly use the guide steps to model why I chose a certain site to share with the class in a whole-group lesson. However, I feel upper elementary students and older could be taught to use the guide.
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