CTVSD3/Introduction/Evaluate

Evaluating existing resources

There are questions you need to ask yourself about the content you have found before you go ahead and add it to your course (aside from seeking Copyright or Creative Commons licensing information).

These questions are based upon the work of a Librarian from Illinois in the United States of America by the name of Molly Beestrum.

1. Is the resource current?

There is little point in using a resource that is outdated. You want to educate your learners with the most up to date information available, so giving them a video to watch or a web article to read that is over ten years old is not going to be overly helpful. It can change from industry to industry, but a general rule is keep resources under 5-10 years old at the most. Under 5 years old is ideal.

2. Is the resource from a reliable source?

It is important to look at where the resource comes from to ensure it is from a source that has a good reputation and is seen to be knowledgeable and reliable. As a subject matter in your field of expertise, you will easily be able to identify whether the resource is factual or an opinion piece.

3. What is the purpose of the resource?

When you have found a resource that is current and from a reliable source, there is one more step in your evaluation. Consider the purpose of the resource. Think about:

• Is this a piece of advertising? Is it promoting a product?
• Does the piece provide a balanced perspective, viewpoint or opinion?
• Could it be considered propaganda?

Now that the resources you found have passed your CRAP evaluation you can use them.

Web 2.0 tools that can be used

What are web 2.0 tools?

Firstly, what is web 2.0? Web 2.0 refers to the collaborative, social web where the user is an active participant in creating content. Web 2.0 tools include social media platforms, media sharing platforms where users can post videos, photographs, art, imagery, audio, songs and podcasts. Users can comment, discuss, react and share their thoughts and feelings with others. Think of web 2.0 as the ‘interactive internet’.

Video sharing

Did you know that according to data from Google, 86% of YouTube viewers from the USA say they use YouTube to learn new things? The ability to create our own content in video format and share it with the world has dramatically changed the way in which people can learn in their own homes. You can learn how to change an oil filter on a car, change plumbing, write coding, make spreadsheets and cook meals. You can also learn about faraway places, people, ways of life - all by watching other people’s videos. Using video footage from platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo have allowed learning to take a different direction from reading text.

Image sharing

Image sharing has allowed people from all across the world to take photos or create art from their daily lives and put them online for others to use. This is part of what web 2.0 is all about, a collaborative, social web where content is created and shared by the users for other users. As with using anyone else’s images or content, check that you have permission and make sure the works fall under the Creative Commons licensing system. Always attribute (give credit to) the creator of any images you use.

An example of such a tool in use is Flickr. This is a website where people can upload their own images and others can use them under license. Select this link for information on Flickr and licensing: https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/