Digital Blog Post D: Chapter 5

Here are three distinct concepts from Ch. 5 that I found to be most informative:

1. Conducting Online Information Searches
2. Internet Information Challenges and Responses
3. Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources

Conducting Online Information Searches, probably one of the most underestimated internet skills, as most students will believe that they can find any source of information just by typing it in a search engine, but it is not that easy.  There is more to searching than just typing in what you are looking for in the browser and clicking the first thing that pops up, because without the use of proper engine the website could be any randomized data.  I know this experience personally based on my Comp. II class where we learned to use scholarly search engines, and how to connect from one source of information to another called inter-text.  Usually with the help of in-text a student can find more about the subject they are looking, and it is also a good method to check the authority of the website by sourcing where they got their information.

Internet Information Challenges and Responses talks about more of the technical issues that come with websites these days, how old they are and how frequently they are updated.  One thing a student does not want to make the mistake is using outdated information from a website that could be contradicted with the newer information from a more recent website.  For example a student doing a report on komodo dragons might use information from a website back in 2001 that explains komodo dragons kill with bacteria in their mouth, where in a 2009 article has clarified that komodo dragons actually use venom to kill their prey.  For me the best kind of website is one that updates within every 24 hours, so that way you know the information you are using is fresh out of the oven, and has not been sitting on the counter for years.

Finally there is the Criteria for Evaluating Web Resources, one of the most discussed topics for educational technology.  There already several existing aspects to determine if a website is good for referencing information, but there are a couple aspects that I came up with myself to further filter out websites.  Something that I do when analyzing website content is that I look how well it is laid for me to read and take notes, and how easy it is to navigate from one page to another.  I also look for references to other websites which can further establish the credibility for the content on a website.  Any good student should take their time to proper evaluate a website so they may produce the best and most accurate paper that they can produce.



References:
  Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
ToonDoo. Jambav Inc., 2012. Web. 27 Sept. 2015.