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NaCl Concentration In Blood
For this computer lab you will use the Internet to find the concentration of sodium chloride in your blood.

While the Internet contains a wealth of information, not all of that information is GOOD information. Remember, anyone can put anything on the Web. Search engines only find webpages that contain the words you are looking for. They are not able to make decisions about the actual QUALITY of the information on the page!

You don't want to use a Web site as a resource if the information is not correct. Form the habit of checking information from more than one resource.

As a general rule, "When in doubt, doubt!"

 
You should look at at least three things about a Web site:
  1. Web site URL
    The Uniform Resource Locator is the global address of the resource on the World Wide Web.

    A URL like http://acellus.crescentok.com/ provides important information about the Web site.

    • http:// − tells you the resource uses HyperText Transfer Protocal
       
    • This is followed by the "Domain Name". This URL uses three levels of naming. The levels are listed in order of lowest to highest when reading from left to right.
         
      • acellus represents one specific sub-domain.
         
      • crescentok represents an organizational domain that points to a Web site but also may contain numerous other sub-domains.
         
      • .com represents a top level domain (TLD) that encompasses numerous organizations worldwide.
           
        • Here is a list of TLDs. You should look at this FIRST before using a webpage for information. All TLDs are not equal when it comes to accurate information!!!
  2. Web site Title
    The title of a Web page is located above the URL, not on the main page. Web pages that do not have a specific title, or display something like a URL, are usually NOT Web pages whose information you should trust.
  3. Web site Authority
    The author of a Web site is in control of its content. Knowing the qualifications of the author goes a long way to determining accuracy of the information provided. The author of the Web site should be easily found. If it is not, this should cause you to doubt the information.
For an overall evaluation of any Web site, ask yourself these questions:
  • Is the author identified and an e-mail or other contact information provided?
  • Does the URL show the Web site is published by an institution qualified in the subject?
  • Does the Web site meet accepted standards in grammar, spelling, and punctuation?
  • Is the Web site free of advertising? If not, the information may be biased toward its sponsor.
  • Can the complete Web site be accessed without registration?
  • Is the date of the last update shown - indicating that the Web site has been updated recently?
  • Are links provided to other sites about the subject?
  • Are all links on the Web site "active"? There should be NO "broken" links.
  • Do the site's pages load quickly?
  • Do images and graphics support the textual information on the page?
If your life or reputation depends on the accuracy of the information, DO NOT use a Web site as a reference if you answer "no" to more than two of the criteria above!!!
 

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Jim Askew  

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