ISSUES IN EDUCATION

AND THE INTERNET:AUTHENTICITY

Eva GornyEducation 4764

AUTHENTICITY:

Accuracy in representation;

When something is trustworthy, reliable, true.

68% of students say they would like to know how to tell if online information is true.

Young Canadians in a Wired World – Phase IIStudent Survey, 2005

WHERE TO STARTDetermine what information is

needed.How detailed?

Use past experiences.Already trusted sites.

Perform specific searches.Choose a site.

EVALUATE Immense amount of resourcesAnyone can post informationDon’t believe everything you read

Ask 5 Questions

AUTHORITYIs the website creator

knowledgeable?

Who is the author? Is he or she affiliated with an

organization or institution?Are contacts provided?

ACCURACYHow reliable is the information?

Does the information make sense? Is it knowledgeable? Error-free?Are sources/references provided?

OBJECTIVITYIs the site informative, and bias-free?

Is the author merely giving his/her opinion?

Are both sides of the issue presented?

Is any information left out?

CURRENCYIs the website recent and relevant?

When was the site created?When was it last updated?Are links current and working?

USABILITYHow user-friendly is the site?

Is it organized, uncluttered, and simple?

Can you gain information easily? Is a table of contents provided?

CONCLUSION

http://www.peopleofcolororganize.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/internet-globe.jpg

REFERENCESBeck, Susan E. (2009) Evaluation Criteria - Why It's a

Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources. Retrieved from http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html#coverage

Media Awareness Network. (2010). Fact or Folly: Authenticating Online Information. Retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/teachers/wa_teachers/fact_or_folly_teachers/index.cfm

Media Awareness Network. (2005). Young Canadians in a Wired World - Phase II. [Survey PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/research/YCWW/phaseII/upload/YCWWII_Student_Survey.pdf

O'Neill, Ann B. (2004) Trash or Treasure? How to Evaluate Internet Resources. Retrieved from http://www.bcps.org/offices/lis/models/tips/eval.html#kinds