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Web Awareness
Evaluating Information on the Internet
- Critical Thinking Skills - To think critically is to think actively, with an
awareness of potential problems in the information you encounter. Critical thinking is
an essential skill if you wish to attain "web awareness."
- Questions to Ask - When you encounter information - on the Internet or
anywhere else - ask the following questions: Does the information satisfy my needs?
Is the producer of the information an authority? Are they qualified to report the
information? Is the information current? Is there evidence of bias or value-ladened
words? Is the information propaganda or an advertisement? What is the producer's
purpose or motive? Is the information complete? Are there better sources of
information elsewhere?
- Healthy Skepticism - Once you understand the potential problems of
information sources of any kind you will get a sense of how much stock you
should put into a website, for example, before you act or rely upon the
information it provides. Consulting multiple sources is one way of helping
you determine how accurate is the information you have found.
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