Taming the Beast

Using the InternetEfficiently & Effectively

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2. Separating the wheat from the chaff

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Believe it or not…This step is one of the keys to your entire

academic career.

Creative Commons Image by Luekk from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lenzkirch-Key.jpg

Employers want to hire people with the

ability to critically analyze information.

AuthorityBias

CurrencyCredibility

Scope

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Evaluation Vocabulary

MediaConstructCreative LanguageEmbedded

Five Core Concepts•All media messages are constructed.•Media messages are constructed using a creative language with its own rules.•Different people experience the same messages differently.•Media have embedded values and points of view.•Media messages are constructed to gain profit and/or power. Source: Center for Media Literacy (CML).

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From the CML MediaLit Kit:

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•Who wrote this? Can you find the name of the author?•Does this author have AUTHORITY? Are they BIASED?•Who published this? Is the author alone or affiliated with a larger

organization? What is the PURPOSE of that organization and this site?•When was this written? Does this information have CURRENCY?•Is this information CREDIBLE? Does it conform to what you already

know?•What is the SCOPE of information offered?

Is it general or in-depth?

Key Questions

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•Content – words, vocabulary, images, multi-media•“About” page – self-description of publisher•Style – banner, colors, logo•Domain – http://www.igoldrush.com/alt_ext2.htm •Links – sites this page links to•Organization – navigation, labeling, sections

Where to look for answers

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Evaluate these sites with the criteria just discussed. Which would you use in an assignment about the dangers of smoking?

The Challenge

1. http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/facts-faits/index_e.php

2. http://www.smokingsection.com/issues1.html#smoke3. http://www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/healthy

_living/lifestyle/smoking/smoking_health.html4. http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/tobaccostatistics/a/tob

accofacts.htm

5. http://www.davehitt.com/facts/index.html6. http://myquitsmokingblog.com/

Bad Site!

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

A comprehensive plan:

http://www.library.american.edu/tutorial/index_4.html http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

Step-by-step evaluation resources:

…but it’s so cute!

Even bad sites need a home.Sites which you deem to be •unauthoritative, •uncredible, •biased, or •lacking in currency

can still be used.

However, your evaluation and reasons for inclusion should be

explicitly stated!Creative Commons image by Sannse from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pug_black_600.jpg

Go on to the next step:

ASSESS