WEB LITERACY

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What is true online and how do you know?

TEST Your Knowledge…

• For each question, explain where you would expect to find reliable information.

• Note: Google is a search engine, not a website, so Google is not the answer to any of these questions.

• Of course, you would use a search engine, but the questions ask you what kinds of sites would probably have good information.

Beginning Vocabulary…

• Internet:– A world wide interconnection of computer systems that

are able to communicate with each other • Internet Browser:

– Software your computer uses to communicate with the Internet

• Search Engines:– site on the World Wide Web that uses software to

locate keywords in other sites• ISP: Internet Service Provider • Web hosting• URL (Uniform Resource Locators)

– internet addresses that you see on top of your web browser

Anatomy of a URL

Which Domains are Most Reliable?

Reliability of Domain Name Extensions• Anyone can purchase

a .com, .net, .org • .gov, .edu, and .mil are usually

reliable• Country Codes: .us, .uk, .de

Which Domains are Most Reliable?

• Government Web sites have the most reliable info in the United States (All U.S. federal government Web domain names end in .gov, along with some state sites; all U.S. military sites end in .mil.

• University studies—especially peer-reviewed ones--are the next most reliable. (University Web sites end in .edu. But be careful! Students post Web sites with .edu endings, too, because universities give them free server space. A tip-off of such a personal Web page posting is the tilda ~ in the URL.)

• Special-interest groups, many which post pages ending in .org, often post good information. But remember: many groups are biased. They have an agenda. And remember that although .org URLs were intended for nonprofits, commercial companies or individuals can buy sites ending in .org, too.

• Other types of pages should be eyed with a reporter's caution. This goes for commercial sites ending in .com, .net and now .biz, and any personal home pages (such as those now ending in .name). However, most U.S. news sites end in .com, and their Web information is generally as reliable as that published in their more traditional print or broadcast sister publications.

How Can We Customize Our Search?

Be specific!Many people type one or two keywords and just take whatever comes up first in Google. This is a poor search strategy. What comes up first can vary from minute to minute!

Instead, try to type a string of words, including “” for exact phrases, to try to get to precisely what you are looking for.

For example, instead of just searching <<Thermodynamics>>, try <<“Second Law of Thermodynamics” simple explanation video>>

How Can We Customize Our Search?

• Boolean Operator - symbol or word used in computer programs and searches to show what is or is not included

• AND or +: requires all terms in any order• NOT or –: excludes records with specified term• “ ”: requires all terms in order specified• OR: requires at least one of the terms• WITH: requires the terms in the same sentence

• www.google.com

ABC’s of Web Literacy

The ABC’s of Web Literacy•Author/Authority•Accuracy•Bias•Currency•Coverage

Who is the author? And by what authority does s/he speak?Try to find the authors' credentials on this scholarly Encyclopedia of Philosophy articles on Descartes. Although they're not listed on this page you can get to them easily at the end of the article. What qualifies the author as an expert on Descartes?(Close the pop-up window when you are done

Credibility of the AUTHOR

• Who is the author? Do they know what they are talking about? How can you tell? Go to ihr.org

Look at the home page. How does it look?

Go to the About page.Click on the info about the

founder.Then, Google “Mark Weber”

Who is he really?

A

What is ACCURATE?

• Accuracy: It is important to determine the accuracy of information on the web.

• How can we do that?• Can you verify the information the author

uses?• Does the document rely on other sources

cited?• If it's original research, is the methodology

or the way the data was gathered clearly explained?

A

Let’s Evaluate the AUTHOR & ACCURACY

• What is a WIKI?– A page that anyone can make changes to– Wikipedia – is an attempt at an encyclopedia constructed as a

“wiki” model

• Should we trust Wikipedia?– Wikipedia entries are written by volunteers of all ages and

backgrounds – Difficult to determine who is responsible for what information– It’s a good starting point, but it is not allowed as a citable

source at Northern Highlands.

Let’s Check it out - http://www.wikipedia.org/

Is the site reliable?

Bias:  Does the author show favor of or against one thing, person or group?• Do Now: Use the Internet to provide answers to the

following. Note the site you are using and why you think it is an accurate one.– How I can lose 10 pounds QUICKLY!!! – Should marijuana be legalized in NJ?

• What made you think the sites you found were reliable or not?

• Three steps to analyzing web page Bias:1. Is the site trying to sell you a product, service, or idea?2. Is information on the site documented with references?3. Is the information balanced?

B

Is the Information Relevant Anymore?

• Currency: What is the date on the website or article you are looking at?

• http://www.wikipedia.org/ - History

• For what information is currency important?

• How old is the information you are looking at?

• Is it current? • Is it frequently updated?

C

Does the Site COVER Everything?

Coverage: how complete is the information on the website found• Do Now – let’s put a do now in that can

help students assess what is on the next slide…

C

Does the Site COVER Everything?

• Do NowWhy is the Sky Blue?http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Skyblue.shtmlhttp://spaceplace.nasa.gov/blue-sky/http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/sky.htmhttp://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/light/u12l2f.cfm

C

Does the Site COVER Everything?

Coverage: how complete is the information on the website found• Levels of Information - audience level• Depth – not always is a 2 page website

enough• Breadth – not all sites COVER

everything• Does the site COVER all the ABC’s?

C

Does the Site COVER Everything?

C

Creating Your Own RUBRIC

CLASSWORK:• All students should get into groups/pairs and develop

a RUBRIC (list of criteria/questions) for a seventh grader, questions everyone should ask when evaluating whether a website is reliable or unreliable.

• Base it on what you have learned in this lesson—ABCs of Web Literacy.

• Create your RUBRIC in Word – make sure it looks professional and is easy to use for a middle-schooler.

HOMEWORK:– Once RUBRIC is created, all students will use their RUBRIC

to critique two websites – one reliable and one unreliable.