There are a number of information systems used in nursing and health care. Search the World Wide Web and look for different kinds of health care or nursing information systems. Select one and review the site using the below guidelines for evaluating websites.
Here is a link of a resource for Guidelines for evaluating websites:
Please address these points below in your website critique:
1.Provide the URL in site ( a brief overview of its content, and date of the website review
2. What are the major categories of information covered on the site?
3. Who is the audience for the site? What clues define the audience? Provide evidence such as tone, voice, language (accessible to the general public or technical) and assumed knowledge.
4. What are the hypertext links on the website page? How do the various links relate to the main theme? Are the links consistent with the main theme? Or does the site have personal links? Is it a hodgepodge of various personal interests of an individual?
5. What kinds of graphics are on the site? Describe them in detail. How do they relate to the topics? Are the graphics designed to grab your attention?
Do they make the site easier to use or help explain concepts?
Do the graphics support text information or do they stand alone?
Do they overuse graphics to the point of distraction? Who are the various audiences for these graphics? What are your clues?
6.From what institutions or organizations does the site originate? Any group can give themselves an official sounding name or a logo.
What beyond surface credibility gives you clues about the reliability of the site and its information? Is the sponsoring organization involved in the research and/or does it provide supporting documentation to supports its points?
Does the site have built in bias? For example, is the web page an advertisement for a product or service?
Does it have a particular political or social agenda? Having an agenda or selling a product on the Web is not necessarily “bad” but is the sponsor “sneaky” about its alliances or “up front”?
7. Make some general observations about what you learned about the subject you choose to investigate by exploring this site. What did you learn about your discipline through exploring Internet resources?
What general observations can you make about the usefulness and value of the information you found on the Internet while being aware that you have only looked at one site related to the content of this week’s lesson?
What did you learn about the importance of critiquing sources web and non-Web based with a critical eye?
8. Which type of website does the information appear i.e. is it an educational (.edu), government (.gov), or organization (.org). or commercial (.com). or network infrastructure (.net) website? Is it a personal homepage, a special interest site, an information site, a news/journalistic site, or a commercial site?
9. How will the information on this site enhance your practice?
These points to address when writing your website critique are deigned to help you analyze the website and form opinions, in addition to, backing up your opinions with supporting evidence to support your points. You may use whatever format you wish for your website critique; however, your critique should not be in question and answer format. Use your critical thinking skills to design a format that is catchy and interesting.
