Some call it information overload and others name it infomania, but regardless of the differing nomenclature the emergence of web2.0 and the easy and wide access to internet has created a tsunami of information flowing recklessly online and in all directions.
A simple search in Google using the keyword “educational technology” would render thousands of hits and sifting through all of these results would probably take you days. Unfortunately, a fairly moderate amount of indexed information found on the net is junk. Being evaluative and selective about the data and facts you find online is a prerequisite for a cutting on this information obesity.
For us in education, enabling students to successfully assess and evaluate information is one of our teaching priorities. There are several resources to help you teach your students about information evaluation, Educational Technology and Mobile Learning has already posed a detailed guide on how to do this with your students, check it out HERE to learn more.
I am also sharing with you this great resource from radcab I stumbled upon today which provides detailed explanations on the different steps to information evaluation.
Click on each title for further information
1- Relevancy
Is the information relevant to the question at hand? Am I on the right track?2- Appropriatness
Is the information suitable to my age and core values?
3- Detail
How much information do I need? Is the depth of coverage adequate?
4- Currency
When was the information published or last updated?
5- Authority
Who is the author of the information? What are his or her qualifications?
6- Bias
Why was this information written? Was it written to inform me, persuade me, entertain me, or sell me something?
