How reliable is the Internet?
 

In this unit you will complete projects that require research using the Internet. You will evaluate how good websites are in terms of their layout and content.

Project 1: How dangerous is Smoking? (According to the Internet..)

There are a number of web sites located around the world giving advice about smoking. Some are for it ('pro-smoking') and others are against. In this project you will be looking at a number of sites and making decisions about the information provided - is it reliable or not?
  Task 1
Create a folder inside your ICT folder called "Project 2 Smoking". All the work you carry out should be saved in here.
 
VERY IMPORTANT - You need to create a document called Favourites and in here copy all websites you visit during this project.
 
Task 2
Look at this PowerPoint presentation about the "truth" of information on the Internet. Some of the images relate to the event of September 11th 2001 - if you would rather not see them, talk with your teacher.
 
Task 3
Use this health web site to find out what the following 'smoking words' mean.
  • Passive smoking
  • Nicotine
  • Tar
  • Lung cancer
     

Open a Word document and save the definitions of the above words.

 
Task 4
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is an international anti-smoking organisation. Your task is to review a number of ASH sites around the world and make some comments on them. Your teacher may ask you to review one site and feed back to the rest of the group.

First look at each of these sites and work out where they are located in the world.

http://www.ash.ie/

http://www.ashscotland.org.uk/

http://www.ash.org.uk

http://ash.org/

http://www.ashaust.org.au/

http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/

Now using the grid below review each site and comment on each of the heading shown. You should recreate the grid in Microsoft Word.

Your comments should be detailed and might include the following for each heading:

  • Design and layout - has it got an appealing look that will capture your attention, are the colours and images used good, do pages contain too much information or not enough?
  • Health information - is the information detailed enough, do you find out about the health risks, does it have information about children or passive smoking, does it have a clear message about smoking and health, is so, what is it?
  • Ease of use - can you find information easily, does is have a search button, hyperlinks to other pages, a 'home' button if you get lost?
  • Links to other sites - are there links and to what sort of places, are they useful links, if so why?
Country Design and layout Health information Ease of use Links to other sites
Ireland        
UK        
USA        
Scotland        
Australia        
 
Task 5
Tobacco companies make money by selling cigars, tobacco and cigarettes. They too have web sites. Your task this time is to look at some 'pro-smoking' sites run by some tobacco companies and to decide if they have a responsible attitude towards the health of smokers, children and passive smokers.

Review each of the following sites and complete the grid below which is also here. Try to look from the viewpoint of a young person such as you and how the site would give you information about smoking.

BAT

Imperial Tobacco

Philip Morris

Star Scientific

The Tobacco Manufacturers Association

Gallaher Group

Your comments might include

  • Layout - would the layout be one that would attract younger people - give examples like fonts, pictures, multimedia (movies, cartoons ,sounds).
  • Health information - are the warnings about health risks clear, easy to understand, easy to find on the site, is the information suitable for younger people or unclear and confusing, does the site tell you about tar, nicotine and other chemicals?
  • Passive smoking - can you find out about this very worrying aspect of smoking, are the risks of children with parents who smoke made clear?
  • Children - Is there clear information about the companies attitude to young people - does it make it clear that young people should not start smoking?
  • Addiction - does the site mention addiction to smoking?
Company Layout Health Information Passive smoking Children Addiction
BAT          
Imperial          
Philip Morris          
TMA          
Gallaher          
Star          
 
Task 6
Using your school email address email your favourites document and the 2 grids to your ICT teacher.