Evaluati

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Ron Chesmore

Evaluating Internet-Based Resources Using the CRAAP Method

(Level: Middle School)

LESSON: In this lesson, students will learn 5 Criteria methods for evaluating web-based information resources to determine if selected sources are truthful (reliable) or bogus (unreliable).

Class periods for this lesson: 2

Middle School Standards:         

  • AASL.CLS.1.1.5  Evaluate information found in selected sources on the basis of accuracy, validity, appropriateness for needs, importance, and social and cultural context. 
  • ISTE.S 3.b         Evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility, and relevance of information, media, data or other resources

OBJECTIVE: In this lesson, students will examine several websites to determine if they are reliable sources of information. To do this, they will watch a short video, Kallie Gay’s Evaluating Sources Using the CRAAP Method, in order to review the 5 Criteria of the CRAAP Method for evaluating web resources:

CURRENCY: Is it a timely resource?

  • When was the information published?
  • Has the information been revised or updated?
  • Are the links functional?

RELEVANCE: Is it relevant to your topic?

  • How well does the information relate to your topic?
  • Have you looked at a variety of sources?
  • Who is the intended audience?

AUTHORITY: What is the source of the information?

  • Who wrote, published or sponsored this information
  • What are that person’s or entity’s qualifications to write about this topic?
  • Did you find the information in a reputable publication?

ACCURACY: Is the content of the source reliable, truthful and correct?

  • Does the source use evidence from reputable sources to support the claims?
  • Can you verify the information with another source?
  • Are there spelling and grammar errors?

PURPOSE: What is the purpose of this site’s creation?

  • What is the source’s purpose: to entertain, persuade, inform or sell?
  • Remember that sometimes a source has negative purposes, such as:
  • To Misinform-To provide incorrect information
  • To Ridicule-To make fun of something or someone
  • To Obstruct-To make a topic confusing or difficult to understand
  • To Defraud-To steal one’s property or identity
  • Does the source appear impartial and objective, or is the language trying to evoke an emotional response?
  • What biases can you identify?

VIEW THE VIDEO: 


Evaluating Sources Using the CRAAP MethodA brief video overview of the CRAAP (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose) method for evaluating information sources


ACTIVITY:  

Based on what was learned on the video, students (working in pairs) will use the following CRAAP Test Worksheet to view and evaluate 3 different websites dealing with the topic of endangered animals. They will determine, based on the CRAAP criteria, each site's reliability by scoring each site from 0-15 on the worksheet (15 being the highest level of reliability)

  •  Use the CRAAP Test Worksheet (from Durham School of the Arts Library Media Center, adapted from the CRAAP Test Worksheet from Beeghly Library at Juniata College, PA):

http://www.dsalmc.net/uploads/2/5/2/1/25210281/craap_test_worksheet_-_middle_school.pdf  (Teachers should have printed copies of this available for students)

  • Evaluate these websites (using the worksheet):

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/bengal-tiger

https://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?spcode=A001

  • Share findings from evaluations: 

            Students will share their findings with classmates at their table, then share and discuss their findings with the rest of the class. 

            Questions to discuss: Which of the resources are most reliable? Why? Which of the resources are less reliable? Why? Which of these resources would be good to use in a research paper?


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