Conducting Online Research How to Locate and Evaluate Digital Resources

Can you search effectively? Many people know a lot about technology but NOT a lot about how to search online!

Do I know how to be a good, efficient searcher? Considerations: 1. Am I using the best source? 2. What do I know about Internet research? I think you know how to place the words in the fields Some of you know what we are talking about-- we are teaching kids and we need to use the same terms.

Internet Research involves: Search engines Gathering information Website– treasure or trash? Crediting sources (avoiding plagiarism – no copying) Organizing Synthesizing info (putting it together) Presenting what you have learned

Electronic Searching

But – I found it on the Internet? Treasure... or Trash?

Why do we need to evaluate web sources? Virtually any person can publish almost anything on the Internet. Unlike most print sources, web sources do not have to be professionally accepted and edited to be published. Activity: The facilitator might ask students why it is important to evaluate web sources. The answers offered on this slide highlight the importance of web source evaluation. . Key Concepts: Books and journal articles generally go through a long process of fact-checking, editing, and revising before being published. However, anyone with a computer and Internet access can post a web site. Just because the information is published online, it does not mean it is true or reliable. The facilitator may note that web sites change frequently and sometimes disappear quickly. Thinking about evaluation within the search process can help to make web browsing efficient and effective. Click the mouse after the title question.

Before clicking on the link, look to see if it is a personal page Before clicking on the link, look to see if it is a personal page. Check out the domain name or the “dots”: .gov = Hosted by a U.S. government agency .com = For-profit business, personal sites .edu = Educational organization .org = Nonprofit organization .net = Hosted by a network .biz = Business site (newer than .com) .ac = Academic organization (outside the United States) ~ = personal webpage

Try the C.A.R.S. evaluation checklist: C – Credibility A – Accuracy R –Reasonableness S - Support

Credibility Warning signs: Who is the author? What are the author’s credentials – experience, education, training – in the field related to this information? Has the author provided contact information? Appearance of site – looks professional, pictures and/or graphics, organized, neat          Warning signs: Anonymous Information Misspellings, faulty links, messy appearance

Accuracy Warning signs: When was this material compiled or created, and when was it presented? Is it recent? Is this a comprehensive presentation of the thinking and the facts related to this topic? For whom and for what purpose (advocacy, information, persuasion) is this information intended? Warning signs: Out-of-date or undated information, expired links, inaccurate or overly generalized information, biased information

Reasonableness Warning signs: Does this author argue points fairly and dispassionately? Is the material presented objectively, or is it slanted and bias? Does the information make sense, given what I know of the world? Is it believable? Does the information contradict itself?     Warning signs: Manipulative or emotional language, one-sided information, a conflict of interest between the source and the objectivity of the information.

Support Has the author provided documentation –a bibliography (list of works or resources) for this information? Can you find at least two other sources that support the data presented? Warning signs Lack of documentation of claims, information that contradicts other reliable sources of information, positions on issues that you already know to be faulty.

Test Using the CARS method, evaluate the following website: The Smithsonian’s Education Site

Additional Information to remember – Cite your sources, clip art, photos. Give credit where credit is due! You can find sites online that will cite sources for you – http://www.easybib.com http://www.citationmaker.com/

Review – Putting it all Together When searching the Internet, use keyword searches to access the fastest, most relevant results. Look at the “dots.” What type of webpage is it? Use the C.A.R.S method to evaluate the page – Credibility, Accuracy, Reasonableness, Sources Document your information. Use safety and good, ole’ common sense when working or playing online.