““But I Found It on the But I Found It on the Internet... Internet...

It Has to Be True!”It Has to Be True!”““The Computer as an The Computer as an

Educational Tool: Educational Tool:

Productivity and Problem Solving” Productivity and Problem Solving”

©Richard C. Forcier and ©Richard C. Forcier and

Don E. DescyDon E. Descy

TodayToday

1. Introduction1. Introduction

2. Problem2. Problem

3. Solutions?3. Solutions?

4. Questions/Comments4. Questions/Comments

Internet StagesInternet Stages 1969: Military/Research1969: Military/Research 1986: Higher education/Research1986: Higher education/Research 1991: General education:1991: General education:

Using the InternetUsing the Internet

Finding things/PublishingFinding things/Publishing

CredibilityCredibility

The Problem (1)The Problem (1) Web publishingWeb publishing

Anyone can do it.Anyone can do it.

No screeningNo screening

Ill-informed/PrankstersIll-informed/Pranksters

“ “Bad” examplesBad” examples

The Problem (2)The Problem (2) Naive usersNaive users

Believe it is filteredBelieve it is filtered

Believe it is accurateBelieve it is accurate

Confuse it with library materialConfuse it with library material

Solutions?Solutions? Understand the problemUnderstand the problem User guidelinesUser guidelines Use Web review toolsUse Web review tools LuckLuck

Understand the ProblemUnderstand the Problem

Educate users aboutEducate users aboutpotentialpotential

problems and solutionsproblems and solutions

User GuidelinesUser Guidelines

Author, producer, site publication, Author, producer, site publication, purpose, date of publication, purpose, date of publication,

arrangement, intended audience, arrangement, intended audience, coverage, writing style, coverage, writing style, reasoning, references...reasoning, references...

User Guidelines (2)User Guidelines (2) AuthorAuthor

Is author known in field?Is author known in field?

Affiliations listed?Affiliations listed?

Address, mailto, homepage?Address, mailto, homepage?

Creator or compiler?Creator or compiler?

Who’s Who, Whois, Who’s Who, Whois, fingerfinger

User Guidelines (3)User Guidelines (3) SiteSite Is URL clearly noted?Is URL clearly noted? What can you find out about What can you find out about

site?site? Ending suffix: .edu .com .net Ending suffix: .edu .com .net

.mil .au .ca .gov .us.mil .au .ca .gov .us Does information/site fit?Does information/site fit? Try deleting right to leftTry deleting right to left

Sites to VisitSites to Visit

1.1. city-mankato.uscity-mankato.us

Is Mankato a real place?Is Mankato a real place?Are the advertisements real?Are the advertisements real?Is this a real city?Is this a real city?How can you tell?How can you tell?

Sites to visit? Sites to visit?

1.1. www.whitehouse. www.whitehouse.govgov

2.2. www.whitehouse. www.whitehouse.netnet

3. 3. www.whitehouse.www.whitehouse.comcom (X) (X)

Which was real?Which was real?

1.1. www.dole96.com www.dole96.com

2. 2. www.dole96.orgwww.dole96.org(Neither presently online)(Neither presently online)

User Guidelines (4)User Guidelines (4) PublicationPublication Single page/series?Single page/series? Author, collection, Author, collection,

organization?organization? Abstract, full text, Abstract, full text,

presentation?presentation? Where published/presented?Where published/presented?

User Guidelines (5)User Guidelines (5) PurposePurpose

Inform?Inform?

Advocate position?Advocate position?

Stimulate discussion?Stimulate discussion?

User Guidelines (6)User Guidelines (6) ReferencesReferences

Well documented?Well documented?

Current references?Current references?

Links to other sources?Links to other sources?

Links to referenced work onLinks to referenced work onsame or other servers?same or other servers?

ARIES (Mar. 21ARIES (Mar. 21––Apr. 19): Your well-being is assured. Apr. 19): Your well-being is assured. There should be some positive news regarding real There should be some positive news regarding real estate or an investment. You may have to cope with estate or an investment. You may have to cope with work overload, but colleagues are willing to assist.work overload, but colleagues are willing to assist.

TAURUS (Apr. 20TAURUS (Apr. 20––May 20): You're in a do-or-dare May 20): You're in a do-or-dare mood and want to persuade loved ones to support a mood and want to persuade loved ones to support a project. With the harmonious moon in your sign, you project. With the harmonious moon in your sign, you should have extremely positive news and unconditional should have extremely positive news and unconditional support.support.

User Guidelines (7)User Guidelines (7) Intended audienceIntended audience CoverageCoverage Writing style/reasoningWriting style/reasoning Spelling, grammar, etc. ... Spelling, grammar, etc. ...

Web Review Tools (1)Web Review Tools (1) Reputable organizationsReputable organizations Named reviewersNamed reviewers ““Honest” reviewsHonest” reviews READ any introductory material!READ any introductory material!

Web Review Tools (2)Web Review Tools (2) YahooligansYahooligans

Safe site for studentsSafe site for students

Huge database of sitesHuge database of sites

Screened and checkedScreened and checked

yahooligans.comyahooligans.com

Web Review Tools (3)Web Review Tools (3) Argus ClearinghouseArgus Clearinghouse

Rates, reviews sites and listsRates, reviews sites and lists

1–5 checks1–5 checks

Uses Info/Library ProsUses Info/Library Pros

www.clearinghouse.netwww.clearinghouse.net

Online Tools (1)Online Tools (1) Information Quality WWW Virtual Information Quality WWW Virtual

LibraryLibrary (T. Ciolek)(T. Ciolek)www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-InfoQuality.htmlInfoQuality.html

Online Tools (2)Online Tools (2) Kathy Schrock’s Evaluation Kathy Schrock’s Evaluation

Guides Guides (Kathy Schrock)(Kathy Schrock)school.discovery.com/schrockguide/school.discovery.com/schrockguide/

Sites to Visit (1)Sites to Visit (1) Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow TorchesStrawberry Pop-Tart Blow Torches

www.sci.tamucc.edu/~pmichaud/www.sci.tamucc.edu/~pmichaud/toast/toast/

Feline Reactions to Bearded MenFeline Reactions to Bearded Menwww.sree.net/stories/feline.htmlwww.sree.net/stories/feline.html

Strawberry Pop-Tart Blow-TorchesStrawberry Pop-Tart Blow-Torches

Feline Reactions to Bearded MenFeline Reactions to Bearded Men

Sites to Visit (2)Sites to Visit (2) RealAromaRealAroma

First Human Male PregnancyFirst Human Male Pregnancywww.www.malepregnancymalepregnancy.com.com

RealAromaRealAroma

First Male PregnancyFirst Male Pregnancy

Credibility PageCredibility Page

Don’s credibility pageDon’s credibility page

The Solution (?)The Solution (?)

Educate users aboutEducate users aboutpotentialpotential

problems and solutionsproblems and solutions

Triangulate!Triangulate!

CommentsCommentsand and

Questions?Questions?

Presentation available at:Presentation available at:

descy.netdescy.net