lesson+-+Research+on+the+Web.doc

Research on the Web This lesson is intended to be an introduction to common sites used for research on the web (including Wikipedia) and examining reliability of sites on the internet. The lesson could be spread out over several class periods in order to give students sufficient information and practice to do quality research on the web and should be integrated with other content lessons so students get the chance to do actual research for the class or for something they choose. **Goals:** Students will be able to: 1.) Survey students regarding prior use of print materials and internet use for research. Connect to discussion of search engines that occurred during Introduction to Web Tools if this lesson was presented previously. If intro to web tools was not presented, give brief definition of search engine. (A search engine is a software program that searches for sites based on the words you designate as search terms. Search engines look through their own databases of information in order to find what it is that you are looking for.) 2.) Instructor should present information about common search engines s/he has used in the past for searches on the web. Explain how valuable these sites have been, how often used and why s/he prefers one over another, if this is the case. Search engines: Google, BING, Yahoo, Ask, Answers, AOL, Gigablast, Cuil 3.) How to get the most out of your search. Small group or pair activity – ask students to read and summarize a variety of articles on using the web for effective searches. Attached are some examples of articles which can be given to the groups to examine.  ·  Using Search Engines for Online Research, [] ·  Finding Information: Search Engines and Web Guides, [|www.sfreading.com] ·  Teacher Vision: Lesson 2 – Using Search Engines, [] ·  Using Search Engines for Internet Research, [] ·    //Note: For differentiated learning, readings of different levels of complexity can be presented or learners can be paired by strengths and weaknesses.//  Once groups have had the opportunity to summarize their article, a volunteer from that group should present their findings. This is an effective way to give the whole class a great deal of information from many articles. Information gained should be organized either on the white board or on a graphic organizer for future reference for all. (If graphic organizer is used, this could be uploaded to the class blog so participants can have easy access to it outside of the classroom.) 4.) Guided Practice for effective search and how to read the results. Either in a computer lab if there is access or using searches done by instructor and printed, ask students to go through the steps for research using a search engine and for finding relevant websites on a topic.  A model of this type of activity is on the Search Education website. [] How to Read a Search Engine’s Results page. On this site Johann-Caspar Isemer goes through an internet search using Google’s Search Engine to find information about Steve Jobs.  5.) Reliability of information and sites – Criteria for Evaluating Websites As a whole group, review the handout: “Five Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages” – Cornell University Library, [] Using this criteria, evaluate different websites. If there is not computer access, web pages can be printed out and distributed. **Extension:** For Independent Activity students can be directed to go to another site on the internet which gives additional information for evaluating websites and given an assigned website to evaluate using the criteria listed in this new site. For learners who need high interest/low level reading: Kathy Schrock’s The Five W’s of Web Site Evaluation, [] “Evaluating web pages for research”, [] The student will find specific information about evaluating websites based on Five criteria – Authority, Coverage, Objectivity, Accuracy, Currency. Examples of websites to evaluate are included on this page. Checklist for Evaluating Web Resources, [] 6.) Wikipedia – What is it and how is it different from the sites we have been exploring? Core Standards: R-1, Determine both what the text says explicitly and what can be inferred logically through text; R-12, Extract key information efficiently in print and online using text features and search techniques; R-13, ascertain the origin, credibility and accuracy of print and online sources.  EFF Standards: Read with Understanding, Learn through Research
 * Identify at least one website commonly used for research
 * Use Reading strategies appropriate for research on the web
 * Justify the reliability of a site
 * Main Activities: **
 * Assess prior knowledge and use of wikipedia
 * Explain that Wikipedia is a specific type of website called a wiki
 * Use of Wikipedia in research
 * Reliability of site for research (use the criteria we used above)
 * Standards Addressed: **