With the growing amount of information available to users, the need to advance information literacy becomes more urgent. Individuals who possess high levels of information literacy can benefit from the emerging learning opportunities. They can also engage in a thorough evaluation and analysis of the learning content. Jonassen and Kim (2010) write that meaningful learning is impossible without critical thinking and argumentation. These are also essential for effective problem solving and continuous change (Jonassen & Kim, 2010). To put it simply, in a world of information abundance and redundancy, a person’s success in learning begins with his or her ability to be critical, reasonable, and thorough in selecting the most suitable sources of data. The focus of the present paper is on evaluating the website for the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division as a pathway to improved information literacy.

The selected website belongs to and is administered by the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division. The organization wants to resolve the controversy surrounding dihydrohen monoxide (DMHO, 2016). The nature of the controversy is unclear, as well as its significance for non-professional observers. Nevertheless, the value and importance of the website warrant a more detailed analysis. The URL suggests that the website belongs to an organization. It is not somebody’s personal page. The .org extension implies that the website was created by a non-profit organizational entity. The biggest problem is with the entity itself. On the one hand, the publisher is the organization, which uses the website as a forum for discussions and public education. On the other hand, it just does not seem to make sense. As for me, I have not heard of it before. Although the name of the publisher corresponds to the name of the site, users like me may find it difficult to understand its mission. At the same time, any debates that arise in relation to the content or relevance of the selected website will facilitate the development of better information literacy among users, through critical thinking and analysis (Scott, 2009).

Scanning the perimeter of the website’s main page does not bring satisfactory results. A non-professional user will not find even the basic information about the organization. On the left of the main page, a list of useful links is provided. They can help users to understand the dihydrogen monoxide controversy and see how the substance influences different areas of human life. On the right, another set of links informs the way the organization relates to other agencies. No comprehensive information on what the DHMO is, why it was created, and what purpose it wants to accomplish is provided. No information on the authors’ credentials is available. The page is quite recent, given that it was last updated on April 19, 2016. However, the quality of the information presented on the website raises numerous questions.

The quality of the information found on the website seems to be the biggest problem. The fact is that the publications lack any footnotes or in-text references that could be helpful in tracing the origin or source of the reported data. Although the main page includes several links to other pages and sources, they are neither scholarly nor reliable. All links work, but they have little to do with the content of the website. Consequently, users cannot be sure that the information reproduced from another source was not altered or forged. Nor can they check the validity and appropriateness of the claims made by the author. Most publications include a copyright note at the very bottom of the web page. However, the information they provide cannot meet the information literacy needs of Internet users. Without appropriate links or footnotes, such publications do not offer reasonable opportunities for meaningful learning (Jonassen & Kim, 2010).

The results of web evaluation are quite pessimistic. According to Alexa (2016), the Dihydrogen Monoxide website ranks 282,900 globally and 72,988 in the United States. The information on the site owners is unavailable. What is clear is that 65.2 percent of visitors come from the U.S., “dihydrogen monoxide” being the principal keyword drawing new visitors to the website (Alexa, 2016). The link search has retrieved 122 websites containing a link to DHMO. Most are related to curriculum activities and classroom exercises in chemistry and other school subjects. The page is not listed in the most reputable directories. Its popularity gradually declines (Alexa, 2016).

Looking back at what has been written and said about the DHMO website, the impression is dubious. On the one hand, the website publishes new and relevant information for anyone, who wants to expand his or her knowledge of dihydrogen monoxide. On the other hand, the design of the website, the credibility of the data provided, and the quality of the links leave sufficient space for improvement. Apparently, the page was put on the web to raise public awareness of dihydrogen monoxide and engage users in an interactive discussion of its controversy. However, without the use of credible, scholarly resources, the website cannot accomplish its information literacy mission (Jonassen & Kim, 2010). It cannot enhance the critical thinking skills of users or refine their understanding of the subject. Nevertheless, the site could be good as a starting point in the study of dihydrogen monoxide. Students in chemistry subjects could familiarize themselves with the topic and use this knowledge as guidance in a subsequent analysis of empirical and theoretical literature.

To sum up, the Internet is a rich source of data that can facilitate or hinder the development of critical thinking skills in users. Simultaneously, with the amount of online information nearing the point of abundance, users must possess enhanced information literacy to manage Internet resources effectively. The results of this website evaluation confirm that the quality and presentation of online information can be particularly flawed. Therefore, users must be increasingly thorough, critical, rational, and reasonable in their information management choices.