2006-11. Kathleen Schrock (kathy@kathyschrock.

net)
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/
Name: Douglas Filo

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF A BLOG

What is the URL of the blog page you are evaluating? Chronicle.com/blogs/innovations/vanishing-act/29479

What is the title of the blog? Innovations, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Vanishing Act

What is the name of the person who maintains the blog? Peter Wood

Evaluating the Content
As you look at the questions below, put an X in the yes or no column for
each.



Yes


No
Does the title of the blog provide information about its content?

X
Is the purpose of the blog stated on the blog page?

X
Is there a link to lead you to further information about the blog creator?

X
Can you determine the credentials of the creator from the blog content?

X
If you conduct a search on the creators name in a search engine or in Google
Groups, can you find out what provides the creator with the authority to write
about the blog topic?

X
Do many other blogs link to this one?
(Conduct a URL search in a blog search engine like Google)

X
When looking at the bloggers posts, can you recognize any bias?

X
If the blogger includes a list of links to other Web sites or blogs, does this help
you determine the expertise or authority of the blog creator?

X
Is the content found in the blog written in a readable manner, with correct
grammar/spelling?

X



Does the content in the blog contradict information found in another source?

X
Is the information on the blog updated on a regular basis?

X

Summary of Findings
Using the data you have collected above, write a short statement explaining why you would or wouldn't
use this blog as a reputable source of information.

The Chronicle of Higher Education is a well-respected journal and website. Peter Wood is regular
contributor to their blog Innovations. He writes opinions which are controversial but well-reasoned and
supported with facts. However, based on article responses he is a lightning rod for strong disagreement
(not all of which are as well reasoned as his). I would use this blog for broadening my educational
perspectives. For example, the first blog topic I looked at was entitled Vanishing Act. In this blog Wood
addresses the disappearance of a Western Civilization requirement from most liberal arts programs. He
further suggests this is the consequence of outright hostility to the culture and its history. As a college
prep instructor, the curricular debates, at the next level, hold great interest for me.
2006-11. Kathleen Schrock (kathy@kathyschrock.net)
Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/