In the fast-paced, ever-changing world of technology we live in, there is a plethora of resources available on any subject that comes to mind. The dilemma we all face is "how reliable is the information we encounter on the myriad of websites we visit?"
It is important for teachers and students alike to be able to search for and critically choose resources with merit. This is not always an easy task, for it is often overwhelming and time consuming. Even after a lengthy search and selection period, we are still often left pondering the validity of either the information itself, or the reliability of the source. Many of us have discovered that the popular, easy-accessed Wikepedia, though laden with information of any description, is not an entirely secure sight and that most anyone can post information, valid or invalid. It is important to realize the same potentiality with countless other accessible websites.
Two key skills that can help choose online resources with merit are; critical thinking and comparing findings. The critical thinking process is an invaluable skill for students of all ages to learn, explore and practice. This being said, critical thinking is not necessarily inherent and can be taught through careful 'questioning' which will lead to stimulate 'more questioning'. Additionally, comparing findings can be said to be as invaluable as critical thinking because by comparing the results of our research we can detect anomalies, clarify incongruities and validate our decisions.
Experiential learning is critical to keep students engaged with their learning, and today's technology is a primary source for 'hands-on-learning'. However, we must keep in mind 'hands'on-learning' doesn't always just happen of its own accord in the classroom. As teachers, we utilize modelling strategies available to us. "Searching for Reliable Resources", includes a WebQuest for teachers and secondary students to help get them on there way to learning how to research wisely online.
http://imet.csus.edu/imet5/koreen/284/index.htm
Learning how to evaluate internet sources is another valuable skill set to teach students so that they can understand 'why' an internet source should be evaluated and 'what' the value of this skill means to them, before they blindly accept the information given. Here are a few sites to explore when evaluating internet sources.
http://curriculalessons.suite101.com/article.cfm/evaluating_internet_sources
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html
http://www.bcpl.net/~dcurtis/psd/handouts/s3-67/
The task of evaluating educational resources is not new and many of the same methods used to evaluate print sources, such as journals articles and books, also apply to the evaluation of resources on the internet. Also, there are some evaluation criteria that are unique to internet resources.
http://www.library.ualberta.ca/guides/criticalevaluation/index.cfm
