I’ve described a few components of the SciLinks rubric so far: the accuracy and appropriateness of the content, the credentials of the sites owner/author/sponsor, and “interactivity.” The overall design or “look” of a page or website is an important part of the review process for including a website in SciLinks. Whether the site is a single page or a connected set of pages, the arrangement of text and graphics will be what compels someone to read the page.
We’ve all seen sites whose design is visually appealing. These sites use spacing to set off the text, making it easier to read. The text is chunked into paragraphs or smaller segments, and the colors of the text and background do not clash. The graphics and animations are of high quality and are integral to the content, not just decorative. Multimedia components such as video clips or podcasts add value to the site. Annoying or distracting sound effects are minimal, and popups and advertising are not included (or are kept to a minimum). A menu, index, or arrows help the user to navigate through the site. Here are several examples of well-designed sites in SciLinks:

• Lionfish Invasion from NOAA has a lot of features, as noted in the menu on the righthand side of the page. This menu stays on the page as you explore the site so that you can always find your way back.
• Most PBS sites, such as The Shape of Life, follow a similar design. Note how this one uses a pictorial index to guide the user. The dark background sets off the photographs. This site can be explored in a variety of ways.
• Geyser Quest is described as an “electronic field trip.” Note how it’s designed to be used with a variety of technological capabilities. The navigation tools are easy to use. My one comment would be that there’s no way to stop the “field trip” and continue at a later time.
• My dad and I used to love to look at maps. A Tapestry of Time and Terrain lets you overlay geology and topography maps. The more you explore, the more information becomes available.

Not everything that is on the World Wide Web is meant for the whole world! Lecture notes, class assignments, and PowerPoint slides are often made available to students in classes. These may or may not be appropriate and useful for the rest of us, especially if they refer to a particular textbook or specific class activities. These often are text-based and generic in design. However, for some topics, especially advanced ones, these class notes or text pages may be the only informational sites available.