Success Stories

What’s New with LINCS and the National Institute for Literacy?
WebQuest Helps ABE & Family Literacy Learners
Evaluate Internet Resources

Earlier this year, the Educational Testing Service announced the development of a test of college students’ ability to find information on the Internet and to be able to distinguish legitimate Internet resources from poor ones. Knowing what information to trust online is not only important for college students but for all learners.

A new WebQuest was developed by the LINCS Technology Training Special Collection as a tool for adult education practitioners to directly teach the reading and questioning strategies needed to evaluate websites for authority, accuracy, bias and currency.

Because it is designed as a structured WebQuest, it can also be used effectively in programs in guided practice activities or independently by students, depending upon their ability levels.

After learning the types of questions to ask themselves while viewing a website, students will view pairs of Internet sites in order to practice questioning strategies and determine which is the legitimate site and which site is a hoax. This WebQuest was designed for use in ABE classes or in a Family Literacy program. Due to the content of the legitimate and hoax sites selected for inclusion, parents and their children might enjoy exploring the WebQuest together.

The link below will take you to the WebQuest’s student site. Teachers wishing to see information about relevant reading research, the competencies addressed by the WebQuest and strategies for implementation should visit the teacher site by clicking on the yellow Teacher Site link in the top right corner.

Websites ... Which Ones Should You Trust?