michelle p_inquiry project 1

8/14/2019 Michelle P_Inquiry Project 1

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CEP 806 InquiryCEP 806 Inquiry

Project 1:Project 1:Do Students ReallyDo Students Really

Know How toKnow How toEvaluate InternetEvaluate Internet

WebsitesWebsitesMichelle PerryMichelle Perry


2/22

vInquiryInquiry

Would the current generation be able toWould the current generation be able to

survive without the internet?survive without the internet?To the majority of the students in my classes,To the majority of the students in my classes,

the internet is an irreplaceable part of theirthe internet is an irreplaceable part of their

liveslives Parents dont need to ground a child anymore,Parents dont need to ground a child anymore,

they take away their technologythey take away their technology

They use it for research, connect with otherThey use it for research, connect with other

people, communicate, publish their ideas, andpeople, communicate, publish their ideas, andmany times they exploit themselves on unfilteredmany times they exploit themselves on unfiltered

sites such as facebook and myspacesites such as facebook and myspace

Students are accustom to the instantStudents are accustom to the instant

gratification of the internetgratification of the internet


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Do students really know how to evaluateDo students really know how to evaluate

all the information that the internetall the information that the internet

provides for them?provides for them? What type of readers of the internet areWhat type of readers of the internet are

they? (Bertram C. Bruce 2001)they? (Bertram C. Bruce 2001)

ExegeticalExegetical DogmaticDogmatic

AgnosticAgnostic

DialecticDialectic

How can teachers help students to becomeHow can teachers help students to becomedialectic readers?dialectic readers?


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When students perform research on theWhen students perform research on the

internet are they aware of the differentinternet are they aware of the different

search engines available or do they justsearch engines available or do they just

use the easy or popular one?use the easy or popular one? What criteria do students employ to evaluateWhat criteria do students employ to evaluate

the websites that the search enginethe websites that the search engine

provides?provides? Do they ever use more than one searchDo they ever use more than one search

engine?engine?

Do they base their choice of search engine onDo they base their choice of search engine onwhat they are researching?what they are researching?
http://www.space.com/http://www.space.com/http://www.livescience.com/http://www.space.com/


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PredictionsPredictions

The most popular search engine usedThe most popular search engine usedwill be Googlewill be GoogleThis should not be surprising since it is nowThis should not be surprising since it is now

a worda word to google somethingto google something Most students will not use wikipedia asMost students will not use wikipedia as

a sourcea source

Teachers in the district have emphasizedTeachers in the district have emphasizedthe unreliability of wikipedia as a resourcethe unreliability of wikipedia as a resource


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Students will demonstrate someStudents will demonstrate some

understanding as to how to evaluate aunderstanding as to how to evaluate a

websitewebsite Other classes have had them use the internetOther classes have had them use the internet

to perform research and have providedto perform research and have provided

guidelines for useguidelines for use

Students may have developed their own setStudents may have developed their own set

of guidelines to evaluate a website since theof guidelines to evaluate a website since the

internet has become such a major part ofinternet has become such a major part of

their livestheir lives


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students develop anstudents develop an

understanding of how tounderstanding of how to

evaluate a website?evaluate a website? In science, as in many fields, there is aIn science, as in many fields, there is a

constant influx of information.constant influx of information.The students need to be able to researchThe students need to be able to research

information from reliable and currentinformation from reliable and currentsources.sources.

Since they will perform most of their researchSince they will perform most of their researchon the internet, they must be able toon the internet, they must be able toevaluate the websites they encounterevaluate the websites they encounter

Even if students do not choose a scienceEven if students do not choose a science

career, it is important that they learn howcareer, it is important that they learn how


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Description of Inquiry PlanDescription of Inquiry PlanThe students will start the project byThe students will start the project by

answering the following questions on aanswering the following questions on aworksheet:worksheet:You are about to research stem cellYou are about to research stem cell

technologies, what search engine would youtechnologies, what search engine would you

use?use?

Start your search. Write the first 10 websitesStart your search. Write the first 10 websites

listed below:listed below:

Which one of the websites might you use forWhich one of the websites might you use foryour report and why?your report and why?

Now go to the two science databases listedNow go to the two science databases listed

on the Media Center website. Repeat youron the Media Center website. Repeat yoursearch and list the first 10 articles.search and list the first 10 articles.


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After doing their own search, the studentsAfter doing their own search, the students

would work with their lab group towould work with their lab group to

develop a rubric to evaluate websites.develop a rubric to evaluate websites.This would incorporate both group discussionThis would incorporate both group discussion

and full class discussionand full class discussion

Our guest speaker will be our head librarianOur guest speaker will be our head librarian

who will discuss with the students what theywho will discuss with the students what they

should be looking for in their evaluationsshould be looking for in their evaluations

The students will finalize their rubricThe students will finalize their rubric

I will compile their rubrics into a final classI will compile their rubrics into a final classevaluation form for internet evaluation whichevaluation form for internet evaluation which

we will use for our first report.we will use for our first report.


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Summary of DataSummary of Data Class background:Class background:

Biology I classBiology I class All sophomoresAll sophomores Supposedly similar backgrounds in internet researchSupposedly similar backgrounds in internet research

And the winner is And the winner is

Every student selected Google as their searchEvery student selected Google as their searchengineengine

When asked whyWhen asked whyBecause it is easyBecause it is easy


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I was surprised by some of their logic asI was surprised by some of their logic as

to which websites to use from Google:to which websites to use from Google:

I would use stemcells.nih.gov because itI would use stemcells.nih.gov because itseems to be a real site about the topicseems to be a real site about the topic

I would use [various sites] because it hasI would use [various sites] because it has

.edu so it is an educational site.edu so it is an educational site

all of them so I have a better chance ofall of them so I have a better chance of

finding what I wantfinding what I want

www.stemcells.com becuse it is the firstwww.stemcells.com becuse it is the first

website brought up and it is usually a sign ofwebsite brought up and it is usually a sign ofaccuracyaccuracy

Contractassay.com because it has big wordsContractassay.com because it has big words

which mean smarter people with morewhich mean smarter people with more

informationinformation


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Others provided deeper insight into theirOthers provided deeper insight into their

choices:choices: I would useI would use www.sciencedaily.comwww.sciencedaily.com becausebecause

the scientists reporting to this website arethe scientists reporting to this website are

from Harvard and Columbia. I believe thatfrom Harvard and Columbia. I believe that

these Universities are up-to-date onthese Universities are up-to-date on

technology and research and they couldtechnology and research and they couldprovide me with more information.provide me with more information.

Id use advancedcell.com because itId use advancedcell.com because it

provides me with scientific papers, research,provides me with scientific papers, research,

and updates. It also has many links. The siteand updates. It also has many links. The sitehas a great fact sheet and a gallery. Therehas a great fact sheet and a gallery. There

are a lot of available options and links.are a lot of available options and links. Another student had a similar comment on the siteAnother student had a similar comment on the site

and also noted that the research was actuallyand also noted that the research was actually
http://www.sciencedaily.com/http://www.sciencedaily.com/http://www.sciencedaily.com/


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When looking at the library databasesWhen looking at the library databases

(EBSCO Science and Facts On File) the(EBSCO Science and Facts On File) the

students noted that most if not all of thestudents noted that most if not all of the

articles could be usedarticles could be used Seemed to be from a valid sourceSeemed to be from a valid source

CurrentCurrent

straight forwardstraight forward All about stem cellsAll about stem cells

Has all the information I need for a reportHas all the information I need for a report

Scientists wrote the articlesScientists wrote the articles All of the articles have titles which go alongAll of the articles have titles which go along

with the topic of my research.with the topic of my research.


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From here we started to discuss how weFrom here we started to discuss how we

could really evaluate the sites and theycould really evaluate the sites and theywere quick to offer criteria:were quick to offer criteria: Credentials of the website ownerCredentials of the website owner

Accuracy of the informationAccuracy of the information Currency of information?Currency of information?

ValidityValidity

Students were quick to offer terms, butStudents were quick to offer terms, butmost could not provide explanationsmost could not provide explanations

when they first started working in theirwhen they first started working in their

groupsgroups


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First going group to group and then as aFirst going group to group and then as a

class discussion, it was realized thatclass discussion, it was realized that

students knew what they might look for,students knew what they might look for,but they did not know what it necessarilybut they did not know what it necessarily

meant.meant.

When I asked one group what they wouldWhen I asked one group what they wouldlook for under credentials, one studentlook for under credentials, one student

responded I dont know because I dontresponded I dont know because I dont

know what credentials are.know what credentials are.

None of the groups could completely describeNone of the groups could completely describe

what should be present if a website waswhat should be present if a website was

validvalid

Most defaulted on saying that the informationMost defaulted on saying that the informationpresent was valid I continued to ask what thatpresent was valid I continued to ask what that


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As our discussions continued, theAs our discussions continued, the

students came to realize many of thestudents came to realize many of the

items listed in the article Searching theitems listed in the article Searching theWeb: New Domains for Inquiry byWeb: New Domains for Inquiry by

Bertram Bruce (1999)Bertram Bruce (1999) Anyone can make a websiteAnyone can make a website

Not all information on the web is relevantNot all information on the web is relevant

Commercial websites are supported byCommercial websites are supported by

people who want to make moneypeople who want to make money

Not all websites are kept up-to-dateNot all websites are kept up-to-date It is easy to copy information found on theIt is easy to copy information found on the

webweb


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Impact of the librarian as guest speakerImpact of the librarian as guest speakerThe students were prepared to ask questionsThe students were prepared to ask questions

since we had already discussed the topicsince we had already discussed the topic She helped clarify different categories forShe helped clarify different categories for

evaluationevaluation AuthorityAuthority

AccuracyAccuracy

ObjectivityObjectivity

CurrencyCurrency

CoverageCoverageThe students were prepared to be activeThe students were prepared to be active

participants during her presentation and sheparticipants during her presentation and she

clarified many of the questions they still hadclarified many of the questions they still had


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Using the five categories presented byUsing the five categories presented by

the librarian, we were able to create athe librarian, we were able to create a

rubric with which the class can evaluaterubric with which the class can evaluatewebsites.websites.


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, ,, ,and Lessons about Howand Lessons about How

Students Find and UseStudents Find and Use

Internet InformationInternet Information Students have been drilled on what toStudents have been drilled on what to

look for in a site since elementarylook for in a site since elementary

school.school.This does not mean that they understandThis does not mean that they understand

how to evaluate a site, it may just mean thathow to evaluate a site, it may just mean that

they have memorized the different itemsthey have memorized the different items Many of them do not use the criteria thatMany of them do not use the criteria that

they have been repeatedly exposed to andthey have been repeatedly exposed to and

rely on the website URLrely on the website URL


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Students, like most Americans, like theStudents, like most Americans, like the

easy or popular route of interneteasy or popular route of internet

search engines.search engines. Many of them just go to the first site listedMany of them just go to the first site listed

not realizing that sometimes companies paynot realizing that sometimes companies pay

to be priority listedto be priority listed

Unless another is provided by a teacher, theUnless another is provided by a teacher, the

students stick to the search engine they arestudents stick to the search engine they are

comfortable withcomfortable with

Some students may have achievedSome students may have achievedbecoming agnostic readers of the web,becoming agnostic readers of the web,

however, most of them have not becomehowever, most of them have not become

dialectic readersdialectic readers


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Since the internet is such a major part ofSince the internet is such a major part of

students lives, it is important that theystudents lives, it is important that they

learn to view the information critically.learn to view the information critically. Not just memorize what they were told theyNot just memorize what they were told they

should do but to understand what theyshould do but to understand what they

should do with every website they encountershould do with every website they encounter


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CreditsCredits

Logos fromLogos from www.Google.comwww.Google.com http://Yahoo.comhttp://Yahoo.com

http://Lycos.comhttp://Lycos.com http://About.comhttp://About.com http://Space.comhttp://Space.com

http://Livescience.comhttp://Livescience.com Graphics fromGraphics from

Microsoft office clipartMicrosoft office clipart
http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/http://yahoo.com/http://yahoo.com/http://lycos.com/http://lycos.com/http://about.com/http://about.com/http://space.com/http://space.com/http://livescience.com/http://livescience.com/http://livescience.com/http://space.com/http://about.com/http://lycos.com/http://yahoo.com/http://www.google.com/

michelle p_inquiry project 1

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