21 Things for Students

Congratulations on your successful completion of quest #1 in your Basic Space Exploration Training! Now that you know how to navigate around the secret worlds in cyberspace, your SSI has requested that you go through the next phase of training! It is critical that you explore deeper into the secret worlds of websites, blogs, and wikis. Remember these worlds always have to be evaluated. Websites are unlike databases. Databases only contain articles and information that has already been verified as a credible source.  During this training you will go through simulations to learn how to evaluate the secret world of websites. Your evaluations of the secret worlds must be saved on your secret file space. Be sure to meet with your SSI Chief to discuss where the secret file space is located. If you are successful, you will be summoned again by the SSI Chief to advance onto your next training exercise!

Steps

1. Phase 1 of training involves evaluating a website.  Select and read over the following training documents on website evaluation.

     a. Evaluating a website 

     b. Watch the top secret video clip on evaluating websites. You should be 
          keeping some notes to help you during your simulation and 
          writing assignment. 
          ***Please note the screen will stay black for several seconds***
         The author purposely did this. 

How to evaluate a website         

2. Next you will use the CARRDSS System for evaluating a website- Be careful! This site is full of interesting information and video clips. Stay focused and scroll down to the section labeled CARRDSS.

You will want to download the CARRDSS PowerPoint   presentation and take notes.

3. Another way to evaluate a website is by using the BASIC form. Read over and take notes on the Basic Presentation.

4. Respond to the following:

     a.   What does CARRDSS stand for? 
     b.   What are the similarities and differences between the CARRDSS 
          and BASIC forms?
     c.    How do you know if your secret world (website) is reliable or not?
     d.   How do you know if you should move on to another world (website)? 
     e.   How would you explain this to the citizens of your community
         (classmates) so they know if the website is credible?

5. Remember to save your work to your secret file space.

6. Now test your knowledge on your first simulated mission.  Northwest Pacific Tree Octopus .   

7. Use one of the training documents to help you evaluate the site. You need to meet with your SSI Chief to find out what website evaluation format he/she wants you to use.

8. Record your results of this simulated mission using one of the website evaluation formats.

9. After answering the questions on the CARRDSS or BASIC evaluation form, answer the following question at the bottom of your document.

      a. Would you recommend this site?

Completing this Quest:

To successfully complete this mission, you must write a paragraph or more explaining how to evaluate a website. Be sure to address all of the questions listed in step 2 of your training. On a separate evaluation document, you must complete an investigative report on the Northwest Pacific Tree Octopus. Your work will need to be saved to your secret file space.

Resources:

Would you like learn more about evaluating web content? Here are several resources to check out.

Basics of Evaluating Web Content 

A list of Bogus Sites 

I have completed this Quest and checked it off