Using websites to enhance and support classroom content curriculum is a tool teachers often use to help meet the educational standards set by their district tor state. The internet via websites offers unending resources for information. Finding reliable sites to meet the curriculum needs can be challenging. Directing students to websites that are unreliable and unsubstantiated can interfere with the educational process and success of the student. Proper evaluation of the website will prevent misconceptions.

Evaluating a Website

Credibility of a website can be checked by looking at the organization or the author and the author's qualifications. If information on the organization or author is not posted, this lack of accountability may suggest the author is not willing to stand behind his words. The last part of the URL, or the internet address, are called top level domains. Common top level domains are: .com, .org, .edu, .net, .edu and so on. These top level domains will tell the purpose of the website. The most familiar .com is for commercial websites, .edu is for educational websites, .org is for nonprofit websites, and .net is for network companies. The references and resources listed on the website is another method of proving the credibility of a website. Reverences and resources listed on the site should be easy for the learner to check to prove creditability.

There is no expiration date for websites. When the information was gathered and posted may affect the quality and content. Current, up to date websites should provide current information or links to this information. The website should be managed on a regular basis to ensure the currency of information and resources.

The current educational standards as reform movement and the high stakes testing that accompanies this movement is the backbone of the United States educational system of today. Aligning chosen websites with instructional standards and objectives is a practice that will ensure the meeting of instructional standards and objectives.

A user friendly website that is easy to navigate will provide the teacher and students with a quality learning experience. Links that are not valid or graphics that take a long time to load may interfere with the learning environment. Questions to consider to avoid frustration are: Is there an option for a text only for better loading? Is a certain browser required to view this website? Are other applications needed to navigate or view the pages?

Teachers must teach certain curricula in their classroom or learning environment. When a website is used for student learning, the website should be objective and non-biased. Biased websites contain wording and language to persuade the reader rather than to inform.