Research on the InternetAmerican Intercontinental University

Greg Fowler

Effective Information Searches• Effective searching is important because

of the vast amount of information available.

HOW DO WE SEARCH THE INTERNET EFFECTIVELY?

BOOLEAN searches

Boolean searches save time…

BOOLEAN searches

Utilize operators to SAVE TIME!

ORANDNOT

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“quotation marks”

Finding and Using Primary SourcesPrimary sources include:

• Physical artifacts

• Recordings

• Original documents

• Peer-reviewed original findings

However…“As critical thinkers, they [students] must learn that it can be problematic to rely on a single source for information.” – Morgan and Rasinski

The Influence of Web 2.0

Web 2.0 has opened a gateway to utilizing primary sources…

Individuals can view (in real-time):

• Source photos

• Maps

• Documents

• Movie

• Audio files

Verifying Resources

We look for the most reliable resources in order to get the most accurate information, so…

WHY DO WE NEED TO VERIFY THE SOURCE?

In accurate information = problems

Deciding on Validity: Areas to Consider

1. Authority – who is dishing out the info?

2.Independent corroboration – what do others say about the information source?

Deciding on Validity: Areas to Consider3. Plausibility and support – does the information mentioned seem factual?

• Unrealistic expectations or findings

4. Presentation – is the source professional looking/sounding?

• Spelling/grammar

Keeping Track of Fluid Info Sources

Once a credible information source is found, it must be bookmarked and monitored…

RSS (real simple syndication) FeedsRSS allows users to continually receive the

information they desire whenever it is published.

RSS feeds allow users to organize and filter their information.

The Bottom Line…

Information can be heavily filtered to suit a user’s needs.

Time can be saved if these filtering techniques are learned and utilized.

The information found needs to be credible, and there are methods to use to ensure this.

Current technologies allow for the immediate retrieval of desired information.

ReferencesAnderson, M. (2010). Expanding the Power of Primary

Sources With Web 2.0. Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 17(4), 36-38. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=52707160&site=ehost-live

Clinton, D. (2005). The Art of Effective Web Searching. T H E Journal, 33(2), 32. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=18404154&site=ehost-live

References (continued)Fallis, D. (2004). On Verifying the Accuracy of Information:

Philosophical Perspectives. Library Trends, 52(3), 463-487. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=12885268&site=ehost-live

Morgan, D. N., & Rasinski, T. V. (2012). The Power and Potential of Primary Sources. Reading Teacher, 65(8), 584-594. doi:10.1002/TRTR.01086

Stephens, W. (2012). AMPLIFY YOUR PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH RSS. Knowledge Quest, 41(2), 26-28. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.cecybrary.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ehh&AN=83341511&site=ehost-live