By Don Oldenburg
Washington Post Staff Writer
January 30, 1998; Page N35

How to separate reliable information from the garbage that so often passes for fact on the Internet? With no quality controls online, an uncritical eye researching Pocahontas on the Net, for instance, might wind up cribbing from Disney's site.

"The free information on the Internet isn't free because a lot of it is generated for advertising and marketing and propaganda and persuasion," says Jamie McKenzie, editor of the free online publication From Now On: The Educational Technology Journal. He likens the Net to a humongous yard sale – finding the good stuff requires a discerning mind to pick through all the junk.

McKenzie warns that while the Internet is an incredible educational tool, it has "huge gaping holes" – it tends to flatten history and time while inflating pop-culture totems and it attracts "the truth" as defined by those with an ax to grind.

McKenzie recommends starting with relevant government and museum Web sites. University research found on ".edu" sites can help, though academics can have their own agendas – so take care.

Web sites created to help children with schoolwork and encourage learning are generally trustworthy – especially if a respected or accountable organization, such as the American Library Association or the U.S. Department of Education, includes links to them on its own Web site. Finally, subscription-based sites that are in the business of providing "good, reliable, advertisement-free information" are dependable alternatives too.

Some Sites to Check Out
For Parents...