VitalSmarts

As teachers, we realize how challenging, yet effective collaboration can be. It is helpful for professionals to have various resources which offer strategies and advice on this important concept. The website, [|http://www.vitalsmarts.com]/ was evaluated using the Website Checklist retrieved from the libraries of Dalhousie University ([|www.library.dal.ca/How/Guides/Checklist/] ). The purpose of this evaluation was to identify whether or not I would recommend this website to those who would like to gain a better understanding of collaboration in schools or for those who would like suggestions for collaborating. Several concepts were used to evaluate this website; authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency and coverage. What is //VitalSmarts //? According to the website, it is a company who provides best-practices corporate training and consulting, which creates research-based training products and tools that enable lasting behavior change which can dramatically improve organizational results across companies, such as the Fortune 500. //VitalSmarts // has created four //New York Times //bestselling books entitled //Change Anything  //, //Crucial Conversations,  // //Crucial Confrontations,  //and //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Influencer  //. The co-founders of //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // and coauthors of the books claim to beexperts in leadership, organizational change, interpersonal communication, and workplace issues. //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> also offer 3 training programs which are designed to build teams, enrich relationships, and improve end results. The company offers keynote speaking, on-site consulting, and customized executive team development. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">The sole purpose of the //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // website was quite evident from the moment I clicked on the website, which is to market and sell the books and training aids the company offers. The site is well organized and very focused, as again, it is evident that the company would like to offer their paid services to you or your company. All of the links in one form or another directs you to the products that //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // offers or advertisements for them. The information is geared toward a specific audience, specifically large companies such as Sprint, AT&T and other Fortune 500 companies. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">In regards to authority, I was not convinced that the company responsible for this site has trustworthy qualifications and knowledge. When I clicked on “about us”, I expected to find an overview of the creators of this company; however, instead I was directed to a video clip of one of the co-founders talking about the company and what it can do for me. No education, background experience or qualifications was offered. After a more thorough search of the website, I clicked on Board of Directors, where some qualifications, credentials and personal background information was provided for each of the 6 board members (including co-founders and co-authors), but it was very vague and not detailed for each individual. For example, one board of director did not list his educational background, but listed a high position he held, where another listed education, but no experience or jobs held information. The website did provide clear contact information that included a mailing address, email, and a phone and fax number. The site was not supported by any particular organization or a commercial body. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">The //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // website does not provide comprehensive coverage on any particular topic, including collaboration. In fact, when I searched this term, 1 of 9 results occurred, but did not offer specific strategies of collaboration. Instead, I was referred to the books or training aids the company offers. //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // claims that their products will build teams, enrich relationships, and improve end results; however, these topics are not explored in depth or detail. Small tidbits are offered here and there, but again, the purpose of this website appears to give one a small glimpse into a topic and then persuade you to purchase materials to learn more. While exploring the link for the free crucial skills newsletter, I was happy to find that there was information presented; however, the entire left side of the page included advertising for web seminars and training offered by //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts. // <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">Upon review of the website, I also noted that not all aspects of it are current in respect to dates. There were many inconsistencies in this area. While the date (year) is provided for when the site was created, there are not specific dates for when material(s) have been posted or updated. There were also training dates listed that were outdated (April 2011). Research supporting the positive outcomes of //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // trainings was listed, and did provide the date that research occurred. While there are date inconsistencies, the site does appear to be fully developed, as all links were active and no construction signs were evident. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">The //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // website is not an objective one. Clearly, it is written in a biased manner with the intention to persuade individuals and/or companies to purchase their training materials, web-seminars and books. Practically every link on this site advertises for the materials this company offers. Because of this, I question the accuracy of this website. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">All statistics and factual information are only backed by VitalSmarts company research and findings. There is no reference given to independent organizations who have found the materials to be effective. Again, it is a very biased website. I found it hard to judge whether any information was accurate for a couple of reasons. First, little information was provided about collaboration or any essential topic, and second, the website’s main purpose is to advertise and persuade people to purchase its products. I found this site to be lacking in concrete, quality, helpful information compared to other sites on this same topic. While the website has a professional feel to it and follows the basic rules of grammar, spelling and composition, it has no bibliography or reference list included, but this is also due to the fact that little information is shared on this website. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">After careful review of this website and using the criteria listed on the website checklist, I would not recommend it to others. The only positive aspects that I could note about this website was that it was organized, professional, easy to navigate and user friendly. While the books and training aids seem like materials that could help contribute to collaboration, the website provides little guidance or materials that could be shared amongst public school teachers. Purchasing the books and/or training aids would be costly, and as teachers, we know that resources are already stretched thin. I’m certain that there are other websites out there that would provide more comprehensive information and materials free of charge to teachers that would be more applicable to our field and experiences. Just as the //<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #666666; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">VitalSmarts // sales pitch mentioned, the materials are designed more for large fortune 500 companies and not school teachers.