Use the following criteria when deciding if a site gets your  personal "seal of approval" for Internet content:

Quality content comes from credible sources, organizations, and individuals with recognized authority in their field. To check the credibility of Internet content:

Look at the website address. (URL roots- .edu, .org, .com, long addresses, etc.)

Look for information about the author. (background, credentials, email address)

Quality content is marked by respect for accuracy, in grammar and spelling as well as in the handling of fact. To check the accuracy of Internet content:

Look for editorial competence. (misspellings, poor grammar, etc. indicate lack of review)

Look for valid and verifiable sources (primary sources rather than recycled information)

Quality content reflects a balanced point of view- honest, objective and open to critical assessment. To check for balance in Internet content:

Look for signs of bias. (loaded terms, generalizations may indicate one-sided point of view)

Look at the underlying purpose. (is website designed to persuade, sell, alarm, entertain?)

Quality content rests on a body of knowledge and carries evidence that its producer is well-informed in the subject area. To check whether Internet content is well-informed:

Look for links to other sources of information. (organized, annotated)

Look at the depth of content on the website. (look at quality and quantity of resources)

Quality content remains up-to-date, whether the subject is one in which facts change daily or one in which ideas evolve over time. To check for up-to-date content:

Look for a publication date. (copyright date or a "updated on" date)

Look for dead links. (‘file not found’ or change of address may indicate insufficient review)

Quality content for the classroom should be relevant to the curriculum and easily adaptable for lesson plans and learning projects. To check for relevance:

Quality content for the classroom should be at your reading level and sensitive to your values. To check whether Internet content is appropriate: