What makes someone an authority?

Flickr.com Wjarrettc

• Why does “authority” even matter?

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

The ability of humans

to make sense of information

and synthesise it quickly

Is this why?

Flickr e-magic

http://iml104.iml.annenberg.edu/2006spring/images/pierson_digg.gif

04/11/2023

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?”

Our assumptions?

04/11/2023

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”

04/11/2023

The Search• Student factors

– “Students’ ability to complete or even begin a successful search is closely linked to their ability to design search paths.”

– Knowledgenovice vs. expertcontent vs. strategies

Celeste McNicholas and Ross J. ToddNew kids on the box: is it worth the effort and

investment?

Place for databases?

• The “mall”

So, what is “authority?”

• A simple definition

– Informed writing

Flickr.com Tizzie

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

Where are informed authors?

Everywhere

Where?

Where are informed writers?

Flickr : kudumomo

• 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

So, how do students know what to look for?

Questions for them to consider….

Flickr user: Xurble

• 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?

• When does NPOV matter? – When is “bias” okay?

• Purpose–What is their purpose in sharing

the information?

• Currency– Is the information up to date?–When does that matter?

• 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?

So, how do you know what to look for?

So why does this matter?

Authentic projects

Published projects

Wisdom/Understanding

Sample assignment

http://whsdatabases.wikispaces.com/Evaluation

Other strategies

• Build base of knowledge• Crowdsourcing• Modeling• Progress check—what did you pick today,

why?• PRE—print/rank/explain exercise

04/11/2023

SynthesisIncubation time

Flickr: Care_SMC

So students feel like this…

Flickr K. Todd Storch

instead of…

Carolyn FooteWestlake High School, Austin, Tx

cfoote@eanesisd.netthewhslibrary.edublogs.orgwww.futura.edublogs.org