Designed for High School Students to utilize while under supervision of educator.  An experience to review and rate web sites for content, design, etc.

SUGGESTION:  Use as a tool to critique organizational and own educational web sites.

Author:
Dennis Prechel, Librarian
Lutheran High School Westland
33300 Cowan Road
Westland, Michigan  48185

Name ______________________________
Date ______________________________
Class ___________________ Period_____

Complete Address: _______________________________________________________________________
Name of Site:  _______________________________________________________________________
Summary Evaluation: ____________

Directions:  For the items below, 4 is high (equivalent to an A) and 0 is low (equivalent to an F).  At the instruction of the teacher, the student should do one of the following:
 
For a quick evaluation, mark only the boldfaced and capitalized items (the division headings) after reading through and reacting mentally to the subpoints.

For a more thorough evaluation, mark all of the regularly formatted items (the subpoints under the division headings), not the boldfaced division headings.  Items which do not apply to a particular web site or are not observed by the student should not be marked.

For a precise evaluation of specific points, mark only those items which the teacher has previously indicated by number.  On the blank lines under each division heading, the student or teacher may add criteria which she or he feels are pertinent for this particular web site and should be evaluated.  To "grade" this web site, the student (at the instruction of the teacher) should add up the values of the numbers which she or he has circled and divide by the number of items to which she or he has made a response.
 

                 4 3 2 1 0 1. DESIGN OF THE WEB SITE
                 4 3 2 1 0 2. The web page does not extend beyond the left and right side edges of the screen and does not require left and right scrolling.
                 4 3 2 1 0 3. The web page does not require extensive downward scrolling to reach relevant  informa tion.
                 4 3 2 1 0 4. The background color(s) or graphic does not make the text difficult to read by offering too much complexity or too little contrast with the text.
                 4 3 2 1 0 5. The opening screen page of the web site has a neat, well-organized, attractive, unclut tered, appearance.
                 4 3 2 1 0 6. The graphics load quickly.
                 4 3 2 1 0 7. The graphics support the information presented on the site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 8. If the graphics are turned off, there are text alternatives to the graphics.
                 4 3 2 1 0 9. Animations are limited and do not distract.
                 4 3 2 1 0 10. The icons (visual language) which are used support the theme of the web site and are clear and consistent in their significance to the user.
                 4 3 2 1 0 11. If sound and video are included, they are relevant to the textual information on the site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 12. The text type is large enough to be read easily but is not so large that space is wasted.
                 4 3 2 1 0 13. Only one or two type faces are used.
                 4 3 2 1 0 14. Text type is not set in all capitals.
                 4 3 2 1 0 15. The web site contains headings and subheadings to organize the information into smaller units and to aid the user in finding information.
                 4 3 2 1 0 16. The use of horizontal rules is minimal and non-obtrusive.
                 4 3 2 1 0 17. Horizontal and vertical spacing (the use of white space) is handled artistically and con sistently.
                 4 3 2 1 0 18. Table formatting is as clean and non-obtrusive as possible.
                 4 3 2 1 0 19. Individual pages within the web site offer variety in the midst of unity and contrast in the midst of consistency.
                 4 3 2 1 0 20. A minimum number of colors are used effectively.
                 4 3 2 1 0 21. The web site includes a form or method of offering comments about the site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 22. Advertising on the web site is limited and non-obtrusive.
                 4 3 2 1 0 23. An underlying grid structure organizes the information (both graphic and textual) from screen to screen.
                 4 3 2 1 0 24. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
                 4 3 2 1 0 25. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

                 4 3 2 1 0 26. NAVIGATION OF THE WEB SITE
                 4 3 2 1 0 27. There are text alternatives to an image map of the various sections of the web site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 28. Link choices are grouped together consistently and are not scattered over the page / screen.
                 4 3 2 1 0 29. There are links back to the home page from all of the pages of the various sections of the web site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 30. The web site includes links to relevant external sites.
                 4 3 2 1 0 31. If the web site includes links to relevant external sites, the links are up to date and the sites are available.
                 4 3 2 1 0 32. If the web site has an abundance of text in its various sections, a search tool is available within the site for its content.
                 4 3 2 1 0 33. The branches (or hierarchy) of the web site are (is) organized logically; the site's organization is sensible and clear.
                 4 3 2 1 0 34. The navigation process on the web site is intuitive and user-friendly.
                 4 3 2 1 0 35. Important information is no more than three clicks away from the home page.
                 4 3 2 1 0 36. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
                 4 3 2 1 0 37. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

                 4 3 2 1 0 38. AUTHOR OF THE WEB SITE
                 4 3 2 1 0 39. The author (individual or corporate) of the web site is clearly stated along with her or his (its) e-mail address.
                 4 3 2 1 0 40. Background information ("credentials") about the author (or authoring corporation) is given.
                 4 3 2 1 0 41. The author is affiliated with a recognized institution.
                 4 3 2 1 0 42. The author's / corporation's affiliation does not appear to bias the information which she / he / it presents.
                 4 3 2 1 0 43. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
                 4 3 2 1 0 44. __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

                 4 3 2 1 0 45. CONTENT OF THE WEB SITE
                 4 3 2 1 0 46. The purpose or mission or intent of the web site is clearly stated.
                 4 3 2 1 0 47. The intended audience of the web site is clearly stated.
                 4 3 2 1 0 48. The date of the web site's most recent update is included, and the web site has been recently revised.
                 4 3 2 1 0 49. A directory of the contents of the web site is available on each screen for the user.
                 4 3 2 1 0 50. Factual information, opinions, and propaganda are distinguishable from each other on the web site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 51. Content is treated as being more important than decoration, and every page has content which has the potential of being useful.
                 4 3 2 1 0 52. If the web site contains primary source material, that material contributes to the purpose of the site and contains source documentation.
                 4 3 2 1 0 53. If the web site contains primary source material, the entire original documents are included.
                 4 3 2 1 0 54. If the web site contains original research material, research methodologies and results are given and discussed.
                 4 3 2 1 0 55. The web site includes a bibliography of the sources consulted in building the site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 56. The grammar, spelling, and mechanics of the web site are correct.
                 4 3 2 1 0 57. The writing style of the web site is appropriate to the purpose and audience of the site.
                 4 3 2 1 0 58. The web site adds to the user's knowledge about the topic instead of repeating informa tion already known.
                 4 3 2 1 0 59. The web site delivers what it has implicitly promised in its title and opening page.
                 4 3 2 1 0 60. The web site avoids "under construction" or "still not finished" notes.
                 4 3 2 1 0 61. Other: _________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
                 4 3 2 1 0 62. Comments:__________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Black, Roger.  Web Sites That Work.  San Jose, California: Adobe Press, 1997.  238 pp.

Davis, Jack, and Susan Merritt.  The Web Design Wow!  Book: Showcasing the Best of On-Screen Communication.  Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press, 1998.  203 pp.

DiNucci, Darcy.  Elements of Web Design.  Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press, 1997.  200 pp.

Ormondroyd, Joan, Michael Engle, and Tony Cosgrave.  "How to Critically Analyze Information Sources."  Olin-Kroch-Uris Libraries—Cornell University Library [Ithaca, New York].  20

October 1996.  Online.  http://www.library.cornell.edu/ okuref/research/skill26.htm.  16 March 1998.

Pirouz, Raymond, and Lynda Weinman.  Click Here.: Web Communication Design.  Indianapolis, Indiana: New Rider Publish ing, 1997.  240 pp.

Schrock, Kathleen.  Evaluating Internet Web Sites: An Educator's Guide.  Manhattan, Kansas: Master Teacher, 1997.  30 pp.

Siegel, David.  Creating Killer Web Sites: The Art of Third-Generation Site Design.  2nd ed.  Indianapolis, Indiana: Hayden Books, 1997.  297 pp.

Williams, Robin, and John Tollett.  The Non-Designer's Web Book: An Easy Guide to Creating, Designing, and Posting Your Web Site.  Berkeley, California: Peachpit Press, 1998.  276 pp.