The Paranormal and the Internet Webquest

Modern technology poses significant legal, ethical, and intellectual challenges to people using electronic information resources. Through this webquest, you will gain experience in web page evaluation while gaining a better understanding of the quality or lack of quality of Internet resources.

Divide into pairs.

Conduct online research finding at least six relevant sites. (Three sites that support and three sites that refute the existence of your topic).

Evaluate web page credibility by selecting two sites from your search results. (Select one site that supports and one site that refutes the existence of your topic.

You are to look at the critical evaluation of a website and answer each question about the two sites.

Create a multimedia presentation detailing and describing your search results, web page evaluations and your own opinion on the potential existence of your assigned topic and of the sites. Write bibliographic information of the 6 sites at the bottom of your notes.

Goals:
1). To use electronic communication media.
2). To identify numerous viewpoints regarding paranormal phenomena and the Internet.
3). To critically evaluate resources based on relevancy, biases and errors.
4). To compare, contrast, listen, evaluate and problem solve as you work as a team.
5). To communicate written ideas in a coherent and cohesive way.
6). To give a successful oral presentation.

Good luck!

Resources:

EVP	FAIRIES & ELVES	GHOST LIGHTS/ GHOST PICTURES	CROP CIRCLES
OUIJA BOARDS	POLTERGEISTS	SMUDGING	TAROT
LA LLORONA	ESP	OBE (including NDE)	MUMMY´S CURSE
WEREWOLVES	WITCHCRAFT	ALIEN ABDUCTION	VAMPIRES
HAUNTED HOUSES	BIGFOOT/ YETI	EL CHUPACABRA	LOCH NESS MONST

Critical evaluation of a website Secondary school level

PART 1: Technical and visual aspects of the page

—Does the page take a long time to load?

—Do any pictures or photographs on the page add to the information?

—Is the spelling on the page correct?

—Are there headings and subheadings on the page? If so, are they useful?

—Is the page signed by the author?

—Is the author´s e-mail address included?

—Is there a date on the page that tells you when it was last updated? If so, is it current?

—On supporting pages, is there a link back to the home page?

—Are the links clearly visible and annotated or explanatory?

—Are there photographs or sound files on the page? If so, can you be sure that a picture or sound has not been edited? If you are not sure, should you accept the information as valid for your purpose?

PART 2: Content

• Is the title of the page indicative of the content?
• Is the purpose of the page indicated on the home page?
• When was the document created?
• If there is no date, is the information current?
• Does up-to-date information matter for your purpose?
• Would it have been easier to get the information somewhere else?
• Would information somewhere else have been different?
• Why or why not? ____________________________________________________
• Did the information lead you to other sources, both print and Web, that were useful?
• Is a bibliography of print sources included?
• Does the information appear biased? (one-sided, critical of opposing views)
• Does the information contradict something you found somewhere else?
• Do most of the pictures supplement the content of the page?

PART 3: Authority

• Who created the page?
• What organization is the person affiliated with?
• Can you tell if other experts in the field think this is a reputable page?
• Can you find additional information that shows the Web page author is an expert in the field (experience, education)?
• Who is paying to support this Web site? Does the domain of the page (edu, com, org, gov) influence your evaluation? (org. = non-profit groups)
• Are you positive the information is valid and authoritative?
• What can you do to validate the information? ________________________________________________________
• Are you satisfied with the information?

Narrative Evaluation:

Using all the data you have collected above, explain why or why not this site is (or is not) valid for your purpose and whether you would recommend it. Include aspects of technical content, authenticity, authority, bias and subject content.

Basic components of an Internet citation:

1) Author.

2) "Title of Article, Web page or site" in quotation marks.

3) Title of Magazine, Journal, Newspaper, Newsletter, Book, Encyclopedia, or Project, underlined.

4) Editor of Project.

5) Indicate type of material, e.g. advertisement, cartoon, clipart, electronic card, interview, map, online posting, photograph, working paper, etc. if not obvious.

6) Date of article, of Web page or site creation, revision, posting, last update, or date last modified.

7) Group, association, name of forum, sponsor responsible for Web page or Web site.

8) Access date (the date you accessed the Web page or site).

9) Complete Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or network address in angle brackets.