Evaluating Online

Resources
Created by Group 1:
Brenda Gerken- Slide Show Manager
Michelle Bergholz- Slide Show Manager
Jessica Gruntorad- In Class Assignment
Julie Little- In Class Assignment
Kate Cejka- Lesson plan/information
Kelly Morgan- Exit Ticket
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 Attention Getter
Are the pictures below real or fake?
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Source: National Geographic Kids: Moment of Huh?

Jessica Gruntorad
 Today’s Learning Targets
Today you will:
● Learn WHY it’s important to evaluate
resources
● Learn HOW to evaluate resources

You will practice using the C.R.A.A.P. Test

(currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and
purpose) to evaluate online information to
determine if the information is credible.
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Brenda Gerken
 Evaluating Online Resources
To EVALUATE means to be able to recognize whether
information is credible.

That is our goal for today!

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Source: National Geographic Kids: Moment of Huh?

Jessica Gruntorad
 Need for Evaluating Information

● Find most relevant information for topic and

assignment
● ● Ensure the quality and reliability of research

● Find expert views, opinions, and research

●

● Weed out unreliable, biased, outdated, and/or

incorrect information
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Source: Healy Library

Kelly Morgan
 How Do they Compare?
Source: Healy Library

There is a difference between online information and databases.

Online Information Subscription Database

● Can be written by anyone! ● Material created by professionals or experts in the

field
● Can offer great information - the user must be willing ○ books, magazines, newspaper articles and
to evaluate each resource to determine reliability journals
The ○ Does not contain websites
● Websites can be outdated or give incorrect
information. ● Articles are fact checked and reviewed for accuracy

● Information is often free - but comes with a price ● A full text or article is usually available and gives
citation information
● Journal articles can be found but will come with a fee
to read ● Usually paid for by the school or institution

● Searches will give MANY results but it takes time to ● Allows for specific searches that can save time
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find good ones.

Source: LAPL Teen Web

Santa Clarita Public Library Brenda Gerken

 What Do You Think?
T HINK: Which type of
online resource is best?
Why?

PAIR: Discuss your

The thoughts and reasons
with your partner. Be
prepared to share to
another group or the
class.

SHARE: Share your Work

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Brenda Gerken
 C.R.A.A.P Video
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Source: Benedictine University Library

Kate Cejka
 C.R.A.A.P Test to Evaluate Sources
Currency: Is the information current?
Relevance: Does the information answer your question?
Authority: Who is the author and what are their
qualifications?
Accuracy: Is the information supported by evidence?
Purpose: Are the author’s intentions clear?
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Source: Truman Library

Kelly Morgan & Julie Little
 Let’s Practice the C.R.A.A.P Test
1. Open Clever 4. Search “Brain”

2. Open World
Book Online

3. Select 5. Choose the First Article

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Source: World Book Michelle Bergholz

 Currency
Determine if the date of publication of the
information is suitable for your project.
At the very bottom, you will find…
● What is the copyright, publication, or
posting date?
● Why is or isn’t the date important for the
message or content of the source?
● Is the information outdated in relation to
the topic?
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Source: Milner Library

World Book Michelle Bergholz
 Relevance
Determine how applicable the information
is to your project.
● For what audience or level is the
information written (general public,
experts/scholars, etc.)?
● Explain why you would or would not
quote/reference the information from
this source in your project.
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Source: Milner Library

Michelle Bergholz
World Book
 Authority
Determine if the source author, creator, or
publisher of the information is the most
knowledgeable.
● Who is the author, creator, or publisher of the source
or what organization is responsible for the source?
The article provides some information but
you may need to do a little more research!
● Is contact information available?
https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cf
● How do you know if the author is an expert on the m?faculty_id=3006
topic (e.g. examine the author’s credentials,
experience, and/or organizational affiliation)?
● From where does the money for the research or
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programming come, if relevant?

Source: Milner Library
Julie Little
World Book
 Accuracy
Determine the reliability, truthfulness and
correctness of the content.
● What indications do you see that the information
is or is not well researched or provides sufficient
evidence?
● What kind of language, imagery and/or tone is Explore the article with your
table group. Discuss these
used (e.g. emotional, objective, professional, etc.)? questions to determine
accuracy.
● Does evidence support the premises/claims and
conclusions?
● Are facts and claims documented or cited within
the text, as notes, or in a bibliography?
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Source: Milner Library Julie Little

 Purpose
Determine the reason why the information exists.
● Why was this source written (e.g. to inform, teach, entertain, persuade)?
● How might the author's affiliation affect the point of view, slant, or potential bias of
the source?
● How might the intended audience affect the point of view, slant, or potential bias of
the information?
● What conclusions are presented, and is the information complete? Is anything
major excluded?
● How does this resource compare to others on the same topic?
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Source: Milner Library Julie Little

 Let’s practice!
Review the following website. Does it pass the C.R.A.A.P. test?

Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division

Currency?
Relevance?
Authority?
Accuracy?
Purpose?
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Source: Central Michigan University Libraries Kate Cejka

 Did it pass?
● Current-last update was in 2020
● Relevance-written towards those interested in the compound Dihydrogen
Monoxide
● Authority-United States Environmental Assessment Center doesn’t exist, no
information about copywriter Tom Way.
● Accuracy-appears unbiased, links to reputable pages, note claiming “Content
veracity not implied”
● Purpose-appears to highlight the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide but the
chemical is actually water listed in a harmful manner, meant to entertain
viewers
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Conclusion: Not a valid, scholarly website

Source: Central Michigan University Libraries Kate Cejka
 Assignment
1. Open Google Classroom and find the “Evaluating
Web-Based Resources” Assignment.

2. You will evaluate 2 given resources using the

C.R.A.A.P. Method with a partner.

3. Answer each question to help you determine if the

source is credible.

4. Each partner is responsible for completing and

turning in the assignment. Assignment Link
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Michelle Bergholz
 Exit Ticket

Click here to access the exit

ticket.
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Kelly MOrgan
Morgan
 Closing Slide
Did we meet our goal for today?

To _________________________ means to recognize if information is credible.

The strategy we used today is called the _________________________ test.

In the future, I could use this test when _________________________ .

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Jessica Gruntorad