1. Using Website Evaluation to Promote Higher-Order Thinking Teri Schmidt Matt Rose K-12 Outreach Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security, Purdue University

2. “If it’s on the Internet, it must be true.”

3. Have you heard...? NutraSweet/Diet Coke (Aspartame) Causes Cancer: http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_myths.html http://www.aspartame.org/aspartame_myths.html Free Champagne: http://www.veuve-clicquot.fr/home_flash/alerte.htm http://www.veuve-clicquot.fr/home_flash/alerte.htm Pepsi Drops the Pledge of Allegiance: http://www.pepsiworld.com/help/false_rumor.php http://www.pepsiworld.com/help/false_rumor.php Oliver North Warned of Osama Bin Laden: http://www.northamerican.com/benladen.htm http://www.northamerican.com/benladen.htm “I heard this from ___ who’s a lawyer, so it’s true...”

4. Today’s Agenda 1. Higher-Order Thinking Overview 2. Website Evaluation Overview 3. Lesson Plan Highlight/Demonstration 4. Debrief Lesson Plan

5. 1.Importance of Higher- Order Thinking Skills Economic shift from traditional industrial base to information & service base Tomorrow’s worker will have 3+ careers which are continually redefined by rapidly advancing technology Decentralization of workplace authority Politics, society, & mass (multi)media

6. 1.Higher-Order Thinking Metacognition: Thinking about thinking while thinking Subjective Reaction vs. Reasoning Critical Literacy: Comparison, classification, deductive reasoning, critiquing Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, Evaluation

7. 1.Higher-Order Thinking Outcomes

8. 2. Website Evaluation Why study Website evaluation? Where & When should Website evaluation be studied? How should Website evaluation be studied?

9. 2.Why evaluate Websites? Increased use of Internet in schools Magazine rack analogy* “Knowledge society” *Harris, R. (1997). Evaluating Internet research sources. Retrieved January 5, 2004 from http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm.

10. 2.Why evaluate Websites? Address student’s preconceptions about “how the world works” Promote active learning by modeling & practicing metacognition, critical thinking, and transfer

11. 2.Where & when to evaluate?: Before the students are allowed to search the Internet freely Subjects in which research, investigation, or inquiry takes place Reinforced in other subject areas

12. 2.How to evaluate Websites? Pre-evaluate Look to evaluation of print media (Authority, Scope, Currency, Purpose, Accuracy) Use an established rubric or checklist (i.e. the CARS Checklist by Robert Harris) *Don’t forget to use common sense

13. 2.How: The CARS checklist Credibility Accuracy Reasonableness Support Harris, R. (1997). Evaluating Internet research sources. Retrieved Jamuary 5, 2004 from http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

14. 2. C ARS: Credibility Author’s credentials “About the Author,” “Credits,” or Contact Information Credentials relevant? http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~abutz/di/intro.html http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~abutz/di/intro.html Sponsoring organization “About us,” “Mission” URL (see handout) Website Design: Professional?

15. 2. C A RS: Accuracy Timeliness/Currency page creation and revision dates (if applicable) Audience and Purpose sponsoring organization and owner of domain URL Completeness presentation of opposing viewpoints Links to other sites A HELPFUL TOOL: http://www.alltheweb.comhttp://www.alltheweb.com

16. 2. CA R S: Reasonableness Unbiased tone http://www.media- awareness.ca/english/special_initiatives/gam es/joecool_joefool/jo_cool_teachers.cfm Absence of broad unsupported statements Consistent with knowledge gained from other sources

17. 2.CAR S : Support Source documentation Corroboration http://147.129.226.1/library/research/AIDSFACTS.htm

18. 3.Lesson Plan Demonstration Now it’s your turn! http://www.beefnutrition.org/ Some resources for your classroom: http://muse.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial- Library/webevaluation/examples.htm http://muse.widener.edu/Wolfgram-Memorial- Library/webevaluation/examples.htm http://libweb.sonoma.edu/assistance/eval http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Eva luateWhy.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Eva luateWhy.html

19. 4. Debrief/Questions Thank you! Teri Schmidt tmschmid@cerias.purdue.edu (765) 496-7707 Matt Rose mrose@cerias.purdue.edu (765) 496-7710 http://cerias.purdue.edu/education/k-12/