Evaluation Criteria for Web Sites

GENERAL INFORMATION (but very important)
  • What did you find particularly in/effective about the site?
  • What information and whose perspectives are being conveyed (e.g., commercial, political, academic, private)?
  • How do graphics interact with texts (e.g., support, undermine, contradict)?
  • On what forms of representation does the site rely?
  • What role(s) as viewer are you asked to take on (e.g., passive, exploratory)? What other possible roles might the viewer assume?
  • In what ways does the site succeed in its apparent or explicit intentions? In what ways does the site work against itself?
  • What interesting questions does the site raise or answer, if any?

AUTHORITY
  • Who's in charge? Are they doing a good job?
  • Is there a clearly defined purpose to the site?
  • Is it clear who is responsible for the content?
  • Is there background information on the author/compiler of the web site that is readily available?
  • Is there a record of the time of the last update?
  • Can you contact the webmaster easily?
  • Does the webmaster want feedback for improvement?

DESIGN/STYLE
  • Do the design and style of the site enhance information delivery?
  • Is it innovative?
  • Does the design reflect/compliment the content?
  • Is there consistency in basic design formats?
  • Are the pages uncluttered and cleanly designed?
  • Does the design aid/encourage navigation?
  • Is the web site well organized?
  • Is there an intelligent layout/sequence of pages?
  • Are the media elements clearly marked?
  • Are the size of media files marked?
  • Does the writing engage?
  • Is it thought provoking?
  • Is the interface designed to assist the location of specific materials?

NAVIGATION
  • Can you move around the web site easily?
  • Does the homepage contain a well-labeled table of contents?
  • Are there sufficient shortcut or hot buttons available?
  • Are the navigation buttons consistent throughout the web site?
  • Is there a sufficient number of links?
  • Do the links take you directly to the information, bypassing top level pages, when appropriate?
  • Are the links clearly and accurately described?
  • Is the interface designed to assist the location of specific material?

CONTENT
  • Does the site contain (and/or link to) accurate, reliable information?
  • Does the site contain original content? How much?
  • Does it provide links to other related sites? How many?
  • Is the content free of bias (gender, race, religion, etc.)?
  • Is the point of view clear?
  • Is the information accurate?
  • Is it updated frequently?
  • Is the coverage comprehensive?
  • Does it provide specificity?
  • Are the sources primary or secondary?
  • Are appropriate copyright statements included?
  • If appropriate, are special features included, such as index, charts, maps, graphs?
  • Are the media elements, i.e., sound, video, graphics, well done and meaningful?
  • Is the reading level appropriate for the students?

PERFORMANCE
  • Do the pages download efficiently and quickly?
  • Is there a text-only option? Is there a no-frames version?
  • Does the text-only version make sense without the graphics?
  • Is there a limited amount of content in each area?
  • Are the graphics small to load easily?
  • Are there thumbnail versions of large graphics?
  • Is the site usually accessible?

SUBJECT MATTER CONNECTIONS
  • Is the content appropriate and relevant to the subject?
  • Is content unique and not available elsewhere?
  • Does the site offer interactive opportunities?
  • Does it make you think?
  • Is the content useful to you?
  • Would you recommend it? To whom?

Adapted from a handout created by ICONnect

Using Internet Resources