Week 3 - Website Validation Activity

?

Week 3 - Information Literacy Quiz Activity

Below you will see the Information Literacy Quiz. All questions and my answers are in black. All answers provided by the answer key that were different than mine are provided in red.

1.List 4 major search engines and a major directory

·         Google

·         Bing

·         Yahoo

·         MSN

2. What is a blog?

·         Is an online application in a journal format in which the user can create posts and other users can view and comment on each post. Posts can include text, videos, images, and links.

Blog is short for weblog – it is literally a log of the Web 

3. Why might you use quotation marks when conducting a search?

·         By using quotation marks you are telling the search engine to search for specifically those words you have written.

Use “quotation marks” to ensure your keywords appear in your search results in the order you have specified. You would use them if you wanted to research a given phrase. For example, if you conduct a search for global warming, a search WITHOUT quotation marks would find sites that include the words “global” AND “warming” – the words do not have to appear together and you will get more hits than you probably want. 

4. URL is an acronym for…

·         Universal Resource Locator

 correct

5. Identify three Boolean search terms.

·         and

·         or

·         Not

             correct

6. How do you find the owner or publisher of a Web site?

·         Scroll to the bottom of the page and find the copyright information at the bottom of the page. I think you can also go to file and click on webpage properties to obtain information about the page.

Go to www.easywhois.com and enter the URL of the site you would like to research. 

7. Identify these extensions and what they represent:

.org – organization                             

 .com – company

.sch – school  (used outside of US)    

.k12 – K through 12 Public School Site most US school sites

.edu – educational site US higher ed   

.gov – government site

.ac - ?  higher ed outside of US usually used with country code, example, “.ac.uk”                        

.net – network site

.mil – military site                                               

.co - ?  (if paired with a country code, example “.co.uk,” the state of Colorado or the country, Columbia)

8. How do you find out who is linked to your school’s Web site?

·         Don’t understand what the question is asking for.

Go to Google: www.google.com and do a link: command search. In the search box type link:your school’s address. 

9. What clues in a Web address might indicate you are on a personal Web site?

·         A name being displayed – multiple slashes and indications such as page levels. A username.

 Look for a tilde “~” or the “%” sign or a personal name “jdoe” or the word “user” after the domain name and the first forward slash “/“

10. How would you conduct a search for the following: a list of Web sites of all the academic institutions in South Africa? (Hint: South Africa’s country code is .za)

·         “Educational Institutions” + “South Africa” + za

 Go to Google: www.google.com and type site:ac.za in the search box

11. How do you find the history of any given Web site?

·         Not sure

 Use the Wayback Machine. Go to www.archive.org and type the URL of the web site you would like to research into the search box.

12. How would you conduct a search for the following: US higher education Web sites that contain the word turtle?

·         “turtle” edu

Go to Google: www.google.com and type “site:edu + turtle” in the search box. 

13. How do sites get to the top of a result list in Google?

·         Having the majority key words related to the search

       One factor Google uses to rank sites is popularity. It counts the number of links from sites all around the Web. For example, if a large number of sites has a specific keyword somewhere on their Web site along with a link to a particular site, Google counts the number of times the keyword appears along with the number of links to a particular site. The higher number of links to a site, the higher Google will rank that site on a list of results. There are several additional factors as well, including but not limited to the title of the site, the site’s meta information and the actual content of the site.

Week 2 - Wikipedia Activity

Steps 1, 2 and 3

Wikipedia begins the article by taking a factual approach of providing information. But then the article appears to take a side indicating that the increase has occurred since 1980 and that 90% of scientist are sure that it is caused by greenhouse gasses produced by humans. It continues to indicate that the global warming will cause major changes in our earth conditions – such as increased temperatures around the world, expanded deserts, and melting of the ice caps.

Step 4

The claim I found in the Wikipedia article or description is: “2005 and 2010 tied for the planet's warmest year since reliable, widespread instrumental measurements became available in the late 19th century, exceeding 1998 by a few hundredths of a degree.”

Step 5

VERIFY

 To verify the claim I searched Google for the hottest year. I found this statement on NASA’s website  “Hansen said he expects record-breaking global average temperature in the next two to three years because solar activity is on the upswing and the next El Niño will increase tropical Pacific temperatures. The warmest years on record were 2005 and 2010, in a virtual tie.”

Web Page Evaluation Checklist

Name of page: NASA – NASA Finds 2011 Ninth-Warmest Year on Record

Address/URL: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2011-temps.html

Date Accessed: 

How did you find the page? I used the search engine Google to search for the hottest year on record  

DOMAIN

What is the domain of the page? .gov

Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility? I believe this being a government site adds to the pages credibility.

AUTHOR/AUTHORITY 

Is the author of the page identified? Yes

      Is the author of the page an individual? Steve Cole and Leslie McCarthy and the organizations is identified as NASA Headquarters and NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

If the author is an individual:

      Is the author clearly affiliated with a corporation, institution, organization or group? Yes

      If so, does this affiliation lend credibility to the author? Yes

      Are the author’s educational, occupational or other credentials identified? No

      Is the author a professional in the field or a layperson interested in the subject? Yes

      Does the author present any other evidence that supports his/her ability to accurately present the information that he/she is presenting? No

      Does the author display any obvious bias (religious, political, commercial or other)? No

      Is the author the original creator of the information presented? No

      If not, does the author acknowledge the sources of the information he/she is presenting? Yes

      Does the author provide his/her contact information (usually an e-mail address)? Yes

      In conclusion, do you feel that the author is qualified to present the information found on his/her web page? Yes

If the author is a corporation/institution/organization or other group:

      Does the organization have a reputation for credibility? Yes

      Does the organization explain its purpose, mission, goals, or guiding principles? On other pages within the site, yes.

      Does the organization provide the names of its officers, editors, staff or other major participants? On other pages within the site yes.

      Does the organization provide contact information (phone, address, or at least an e-mail address)? yes

      Does the organization appear to filter the information appearing under its name?           Yes

      Does the organization display any obvious signs of bias? No

      In conclusion, do you think that this organization is qualified to present the information found on its web page? Yes

INTENT

Is the purpose of the page clearly stated? Yes

What is or appears to be the purpose of the page? Inform

Does the page contain advertisements?  Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page?  Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page? No

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page?

Anyone interested in the topic.

Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs? Yes

CURRENTNESS

When was the information on the page created or last updated? January 19, 2012

Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given? Yes

Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect? Yes

  

RELIABILITY

Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny? No

Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources? No

Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem?

The source seems very reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

Do you feel that this source is appropriate for your current assignment or information need? Yes

Would you recommend this source to a friend doing similar research? Yes

What reservations, if any, do you have about the source? There are quotations made form individuals which might have some bias in them but overall the information provided seems to be factual.

DISPUTE

To dispute this claim I searched Google for the warmest year on record. I found this statement on the NOAA website: ” Global temperatures in 1998 were the warmest in the past 119 years, since reliable instrument records began, the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced today.” What is important to understand about this website is that it was last updated on January 11, 1999.

Web Page Evaluation Checklist

Name of page: 1998 Warmest Year on Record, NOAA 99-1

Address/URL: http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases99/jan99/noaa99-1.html

Date Accessed:  6/3/12

How did you find the page? I used the search engine Google to search for the warmest year on record  

DOMAIN

What is the domain of the page? .gov

Do you feel that the domain type helps add to or lessen the page’s credibility? I believe this being a government site adds to the pages credibility.

AUTHOR/AUTHORITY 

Is the author of the page identified? Yes

      Is the author of the page an individual? Stepahine Kenitzer and Patricia Viets

If the author is an individual:

      Is the author clearly affiliated with a corporation, institution, organization or group? No

      If so, does this affiliation lend credibility to the author? No

      Are the author’s educational, occupational or other credentials identified? No

      Is the author a professional in the field or a layperson interested in the subject? Not stated.  

      Does the author present any other evidence that supports his/her ability to accurately present the information that he/she is presenting? No

      Does the author display any obvious bias (religious, political, commercial or other)? No

      Is the author the original creator of the information presented? No

      If not, does the author acknowledge the sources of the information he/she is presenting? Yes

      Does the author provide his/her contact information (usually an e-mail address)? No

      In conclusion, do you feel that the author is qualified to present the information found on his/her web page? I am not sure there is not enough information provided about the author.

If the author is a corporation/institution/organization or other group:

      Does the organization have a reputation for credibility? Not stated.  

      Does the organization explain its purpose, mission, goals, or guiding principles? No

      Does the organization provide the names of its officers, editors, staff or other major participants? No

      Does the organization provide contact information (phone, address, or at least an e-mail address)? No

      Does the organization appear to filter the information appearing under its name?  Not sure

      Does the organization display any obvious signs of bias? No

      In conclusion, do you think that this organization is qualified to present the information found on its web page? Unsure

INTENT

Is the purpose of the page clearly stated? No

What is or appears to be the purpose of the page? Inform

Does the page contain advertisements?  Do the ads distract from the page’s content, affect the page’s reliability, or appear to be the main focus of the page?  Might they be necessary to support the organization responsible for the page? No

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Who appears to be the intended audience for this information/page?

Anyone interested in the topic.

Does the level or complexity of information provided, the vocabulary used, and the overall tone of the information/page match your needs? Yes

CURRENTNESS

When was the information on the page created or last updated? January 11, 1999

Are the dates of articles, news stories, newsletters, reports and other publications given? Yes

Is the page properly maintained or does it have broken links, outdated events calendars or other signs of neglect? Yes

  

RELIABILITY

Is the content peer-reviewed, authenticated by experts, or subject to some sort of editorial scrutiny? No

Does the page display any awards given by reliable sources, or link to favorable site reviews by reliable sources? No

Considering your answers to the previous questions, other observations you’ve made, and your overall sense of the page, how reliable does this source seem?

The source seems like it might be reliable but needs to be further researched on the organization to determine if the source would in fact be reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

Do you feel that this source is appropriate for your current assignment or information need? Yes

Would you recommend this source to a friend doing similar research? No

What reservations, if any, do you have about the source? There is a lack of information provided about the organization that needs to be evaluated. The information provided in the article is over 12 years old and has not been updated. This is not a reliable source to obtain information from.

                                                                                  

Step 6

The talk link indicates that this article is subject to general sanctions. Basically I understand that this means that the article has to meet all rules, laws, and guidelines of the organization. I also understand that Wikipedia clearly states that the information should be verifiable and that users must understand that the article is an area of reference and should not be used as a source of information.

Step 7

The question that I choose under frequently asked questions was: “Can't the increase of CO₂ be from natural sources, like volcanoes or the oceans?”

This article http://presenters.climaterealityproject.org/news/article/545 shows how we are causing the increased emissions of C02 faster than the atmosphere can tolerate.

Step 8

I believe the “Back to old lede” sections  shows that Wikipedia does not claim to be completely accurate in their information nor up to date. I feel that it is responsible that they do mention this information – but at the same time – I wonder how many people know where to find this claim. I know that I did not know this information was provided here and even though they are acknowledge the mistakes in their article they are not making this available or readily seen on the article. The normal viewer might assume all information is accurate and up to date and not know about the Talk section. I do not believe this makes the site more reliable for information, however it does make them more ethical in the information they are presenting.

Step 9

I believe, after looking at this site I can see why Wikipedia should be a source of ideas of information to further research. I could not find any credentials or experience on scientific topics for this user; however they are a contributor to the global warming page. Has this user been involved in the research process first hand or is their knowledge base from prior research they have completed. This is why Wikipedia is not a reliable source of information, but a great place for locating ideas for research.

Step 10

Wikipedia could be integrated into classroom research activities as well as ethical activities. Wikipedia can be used for students to locate information and then be required to verify that information with other sites. Students could learn about ethics and how to use the information provided on Wikipedia and how to properly cite information from other locations when creating their own report. Wikipedia could also be used when discussing participatory web and web 2.0 how we now participate and create a majority of the information on the web – this would be great to tie into why students must understand to determine the credibility of the site with which they are obtaining information from. 

Image Website

Week 2 Post - Henry Jenkins

What is Henry Jenkins main arguments about Wikipedia?

Henry Jenkins stresses that Wikipedia is one of the new ways that we are learning and exploring information, but it must be noted that the accuracy of this information is unreliable; however it can lead to some very reliable sources. A student must be prepared to do additional research on the information obtained from Wikipedia to locate a credible source. He states that you must realize Wikipedia is not a bad source of information, but you should be skeptic about the information you locate and find a reliable source that pertains to the same information. One thing that he mentioned that I found very interesting is that sites such as Wikipedia or just Web 2.0 features are to the new generation as what Rock and Roll was to the baby boomer generation. It is important to understand that we need to engage in conversations and then be able to research and discover accurate sources to back the information that we are discovering. Wikipedia is not a collection of articles but rather a collection of conversations about a topic or piece of information.

I found his discussion about SOPA and ethics to be very interesting. I actually had my students to research information about SOPA and create presentations about SOPA in my classroom this year. Students were outraged by the restrictions in this law - and what I found interesting was that they were not only outraged on a personal level but also on an educational level. Students complained about how this would effect school, and how were they suppose to do research without access to the internet. I found it inspiring that the students were able to see how this would effect their personal use of the internet and their educational uses of the internet. Henry Jenkins explains that we need to talk about the ethics related to this. That no we do not need to take the access in, but we must understand how to ethically use the information. I thought this was a great point.


What is "participatory culture"?

Call of social ship and participation in a community discussion. Students must now be able to participate in the literacy. It is no longer an age where you produce a written paper turn it in and get a grade - that is the end of communication. Today in new media literacy - it is an expansion on the skills. The student will produce a written work that will then be circulated on a social basis and go through multiple phases that produce discussion and expansion on the written work to continue the learning beyond simple reading and writing. Students must obtain these participation skills to effectively participate in society.



What is the relationship between "old literacies" and "new media literacies".

Old Literacies involved reading and writing, and the new literacies of today include not only reading and writing but also expressions, conversations, and problem solving. So how is this affecting both generations - well not only are the younger generations finding new ways of communicating and expanding literacies but they are also changing the world of literacy for the older generations. New literacies is not replacing old literacy - because simply put students can not participate if they can read and write (old literacies). Basically we are expanding on what do the students need beyond reading and writing to get the new literacies.


What are the reading and writing behaviors associated with "new media literacies".

The social interaction, importance of participation, and forms of mentor-ship are some of these skills the students need to learn beyond the reading and writing skills of literacies. These are about what can we do together, what can we lead together. How ideas circulate is how we write them. How does the information we write travel. Participation in a community and social skills to be full capable to be literate in the new definition.



According to Henry Jenkins why is it important to teach "new media literacies" in school?

Henry believes that it is important for students to first know the old literacies - how to read and write, but he also believes that it is important for students to learn the new skills of what we call new media literacies. Only 50-55% of our students have participated in media literacies on the web that means that we still are lacking at least 40% of our students who have not. We need to make sure that we are teaching the importance of these new literacies such as the social skills and community involvement to all of our students and provide theme with opportunities to do just that in the classroom. Literacy is now more than a written paper but it is a written document that is then expanded on discussed and circulated - usually in a digital format with the new features of the Web 2.0.


What can Wikipedia teach us about "new media literacies"?

Wikipedia can provide us with a source of locating ideas and involvement in a community discussing information and ideas concerning important learning topics; however it is crucial that we successfully teach our students that this information is not always accurate. Even though the information may not be accurate they are still learning many valuable skills of new literacies. The information the do obtain may be great starting points for further research which can lead to credible sources which can then be cited and used to produce a successful document - and thus students have participated in all areas of the new media literacies skill set.