This content is located in CAPS under Information Management for Grade 11.

Evaluating websites is a critical skill for students to develop, ensuring they can discern credible information sources amidst the vast expanse of the internet. The topic aligns with CAPS objectives for teaching critical evaluation, quality control, and informed decision-making regarding digital information. Here’s how you can bring this concept to life in the classroom with engaging, practical activities.

To make this topic interactive, consider starting with a discussion on why evaluating websites is essential. Use examples of misinformation, like outdated medical advice or viral fake news articles, to spark students’ curiosity. This context will highlight the real-world relevance of website evaluation skills.

Practical Classroom Ideas

1. The CRAAP Test Exercise
   • Teach students the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose). Provide them with a worksheet to evaluate two or three preselected websites on a common topic, like health or education. For example, compare a personal blog about medical advice with a professional site like the World Health Organization.
   • Allow group discussions where students defend their evaluations, sharpening critical thinking skills.
2. Spot the Fake News Challenge
   • Present students with two websites: one with deliberately misleading or false content and another credible one. Assign students to evaluate the content using criteria such as domain type, author credentials, and the presence of ads. Discuss their findings as a class.
3. Interactive Scavenger Hunt
   • Create a scavenger hunt for students to identify specific elements on various websites, such as the publication date, author name, or privacy policies. This activity trains them to quickly locate critical details.
4. Build a Website Evaluation Rubric
   • Divide the class into groups and assign them to create a rubric for evaluating websites. The rubric might include questions like:
     • Is the author an expert in the field?
     • Does the website have a professional appearance?
     • Are sources of information cited?
   • Test these rubrics on different websites and compare the results across groups.
5. Debate: Wikipedia – Reliable or Not?
   • Organise a debate where one team argues that Wikipedia is a reliable source and the other argues it is not. Students will research, evaluate, and cite evidence to support their arguments.
6. Real-World Website Comparison
   • Have students compare a well-known educational website (e.g., Britannica) with a personal blog on the same subject. Focus on differences in tone, layout, citations, and depth of content.
7. Create Your Own Evaluation Guide
   • Ask students to design a guide for their peers, detailing the key steps for evaluating a website. This can be done using presentation software, posters, or even short video clips.
8. The Role of Search Engines
   • Explore how search engines rank websites. Discuss factors like SEO and paid promotions. Show how these affect the credibility of top search results. Students can experiment with advanced search operators to filter results for credibility.

Integrating Technology

If technology resources are available, use tools like Google Forms for students to submit their evaluations of a specific website. Platforms such as Kahoot can be used for quizzes on recognising credible website features. A collaborative Google Doc could allow students to co-create a live checklist for website evaluation.

These activities align with Bloom’s taxonomy by:

• Remembering: Listing key evaluation criteria.
• Understanding: Explaining why certain features make a website credible.
• Applying: Using the CRAAP test to evaluate specific websites.
• Analysing: Comparing two websites for reliability.
• Evaluating: Judging the credibility of information sources.
• Creating: Designing their own evaluation rubric or guide.

Teaching students to evaluate websites not only meets CAPS requirements but also equips them with lifelong skills to navigate the complexities of the digital world confidently. Encourage your learners to share examples of websites they encounter outside of class and discuss their evaluation results.