Music Technology 340
Web Site Evaluation Rubric

EASE OF NAVIGATION

The Format is User Friendly:

• Clear scope
• Easy to understand and use
• Includes appropriate, clearly labeled links.
• Purpose of site is obvious.
• Structure is clear, intuitive.
• Home page has a well-labeled table of contents or linked site map.
• A consistent graphic (or layout) helps with navigation.
• Main path is clear (Next and Previous buttons, Start here if appropriate).
• Supporting pages link back to Home page and/or original table of contents.
• If a document is long, it has a table of contents with links to main sections so you don't have to scroll through the whole document.
• Links are accurately described and operate efficiently.
• Page titles are meaningful and consistent with the words used to link to the page.

The Format is Courteous:

• Graphics are quickly downloaded and relevant, text is easy to read.
• Background is subdued and coordinates with text colors and graphics.
• Connection is fast; site is usually accessible.
• Pages load quickly.
• Pages display correctly.
• Text is easy to read.
• Background doesn't interfere with text.
• Graphics and multimedia have a purpose; they add to the instructional value.
• Images and image links have alternate text links; the page makes sense without images.
• Site uses thumbnails for large images and tells you how big the images are.
• Downloadable files are easy to download. If a file is very large, its size is indicated.
• Site invites feedback and provides an e-mail address.

PRESENTATION

The Format is Aesthetically Appealing:

• Attractive and creative use of graphics and colors.
• Creates good first impression.
• Design is clean and uncluttered.
• Consistent design/style gives the site coherence.
• Presentation is tasteful.
• Site is engaging and makes you want to come back to it.

CONTENT

The Content is Credible:

• Information is accurate, complete, and maintained.
• Point of view is clear.
• Site is free of bias, or the bias is clear.
• Site exhibits care: correct spelling, punctuation, grammar.
• You can easily identify the publisher (the server it resides on).
• Author is identified.
• You can easily find out more about the author and the author's authority.
• You can contact the author or webmaster; an e-mail address, phone number and/or address is provided.
• Information is current, timely.
• Tells you when it was first published, including the year.
• Tells you when it was last updated, and how often it will be.
• Criteria for inclusion of material are available.
• Site is persistent. You're confident it will be there the next time you want to visit it.

The Content is Useful:

• Content is meaningful
• Provides a path for further study.
• Makes judicious use of links; there aren't so many that you feel overburdened.
• Links are valid.
• Includes a bibliography if appropriate.
• Content is unique, not available elsewhere.
• Information is appropriate for the intended audience.

The Content is Rich:

• Information is rich and likely to be revisited.
• Linked information is relevant and authoritative or illustrative

MARKUP

• Links work properly
• Graphics include height and width attributes
• Works in all browsers
• Works in text-only mode
• No "hanging" tags
• Clear knowledge of a broad range of tags