SECTION 2: STRATEGIES FOR LOCATING RELIABLE HIV/AIDS INFORMATION ON THE WEB

INDEPENDENT EXERCISES

The independent exercises are designed to give you the opportunity to become familiar with HIV/AIDS Web resources.

Print this sheet and do the exercises later,
or open a second browser window and keep this screen handy as you do the exercise below.

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1. Pick an HIV/AIDS Web resource. You can select a Web site that you have used in the past, one of your favorites, one of the sites that was featured in this tutorial, or choose from the list below:

   • AEGIS
     http://www.aegis.org

   • AIDS Info
     http://www.aidsinfo.nih.gov/

   • amfAR
     http://www.amfar.org/

   • Ask NOAH About: AIDS and HIV
     http://www.noah-health.org/english/illness/aids/aids.html

   • CDC HIV/AIDS Prevention Web Site
     http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/dhap.htm

   • Gay Men's Health Crisis
     http://www.gmhc.org

   Ask yourself these questions as you browse through the Web site you have chosen:

2. Which site did you select? Why?
   

3. Does the site include a MISSION STATEMENT or information about goals or focus of the Web site?
   

4. Does the site include an ABOUT section or information about the organization or agency that sponsors the site?
   

5. Does the site include a DATE when it was last updated? Can you tell whether the site is current?
   

6. Is the site uncluttered? Is the HOME PAGE or MAIN MENU easy to read and follow?
   

7. Does the site have a NAVIGATION BAR that appears on every screen? Is it easy to use? Does it help orient you to the contents and organization of the site?
   

8. Is the Web site organized into logical CATEGORIES? What category options are available?
   

9. Think of a question or topic, and try to find LINKS or WEB COLLECTIONS that will address your question. Does the site contain the information you need?
   

10. What do you like best about the site that you have selected?
    

11. Is there anything in particular about the site that you did NOT like or that you found difficult to use?
    

12. Would you go back to this site again? Would you use it regularly to answer your information needs or questions?
    

Now choose another HIV/AIDS Web site, and try the exercise again, comparing the features and functions of the two different sites.

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