issues, concerns, strategies for working with students on web authority

1. Flickr.com Wjarrettc What makes someone an authority?

2. Why does “authority” even matter?

3. The ability of humans to make sense of information and synthesise it quickly will become the most valuable skill of the next five years. Scottish educator Ewan McIntosh http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/2007/03/peter_kellner_y.html

4. Is this why? Flickr e-magic

10. 1/27/2011 First there was the library… “Enter the internet: a world where there is no process of selectivity other than that each surfer brings with them.” Celeste McNicholas and Ross J. Todd “New kids on the box: is it worth the effort and investment?”

11. Our assumptions?

12. 1/27/2011 Our assumptions? students have the skills and vocabulary in a particular content area to do a search students are able to determine what they need to know and choose relevant information students readily transfer skills students know everything about the internet and know how and where to search Ross Todd “Research Column 3, 1997”

13. 1/27/2011 The Search Student factors “Students’ ability to complete or even begin a successful search is closely linked to their ability to design search paths.” Knowledge novice vs. expert content vs. strategies Celeste McNicholas and Ross J. Todd New kids on the box: is it worth the effort and investment?

14. Place for databases? The “mall”

15. So, what is “authority?” A simple definition Informed writing Flickr.com Tizzie

16. An informed author Knows the subject matter and has something to say Has experience on the topic or writing Has their facts straight or corrects them if they are wrong Has credentials listed Writes thoughtfully

17. Where are informed authors?

18. Everywhere Where? Where are informed writers? Flickr : kudumomo

19. In print newspapers, magazines, e-books or print books In Encyclopedias from Wikipedia to Worldbook and Britannica or “specialized” encyclopedias On the web On websites In databases In blogs and wikis In emails On facebook/myspace/twitter/clubpenguin/ning/etc. In person interviews

20. So, how do students know what to look for?Questions for them to consider…. Flickr user: Xurble

21. Wisdom What does the writer add to your understanding?

22. Expertise and Trust What does the writer know about the subject? Why is it that you trust their expertise?

23. Care Does the writer use care in writing?

24. NPOV Does the writer have a neutral point of view?

25. When does NPOV matter? When is “bias” okay?

26. Purpose What is their purpose in sharing the information?

27. Currency Is the information up to date? When does that matter?

28. So, how do you know what to look for? Wisdom What does the writer add to your understanding? Expertise and Trust What does the writer know about the subject? Why is it that you trust their expertise? Care Does the writer use care in writing? NPOV Does the writer have a neutral point of view? Purpose What is their purpose in sharing the information? Currency Is the information up to date?

29. So why does this matter? Authentic projects Published projects Wisdom/Understanding

30. Sample assignment http://whsdatabases.wikispaces.com/Evaluation

31. Other strategies Build base of knowledge Crowdsourcing Modeling Progress check—what did you pick today, why? PRE—print/rank/explain exercise

32. Synthesis 1/27/2011 Incubation time Flickr: Care_SMC

33. So students feel like this… Flickr K. Todd Storch

34. instead of…

35. Carolyn Foote Westlake High School, Austin, Tx cfoote@eanesisd.net thewhslibrary.edublogs.org www.futura.edublogs.org