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So How Do You Find the Good Stuff?

Submitted by teachergwa on August 9, 2009 - 2:49pm
Summary: 

Students are taught about the difference between publishing a book and posting a web site, emphasizing the selectivity of the publishing process. The "1 - 2 - 3" approach to researching on the Internet is introduced. Students then get a chance to try out the first two steps.

Objectives: 

After this lesson, students will

  • understand that publication is a process of different people selecting the best work at each stage.
  • understand that Internet web sites can be created and posted with no checking or selection.
  • recognize that not all Internet content is equally useful.
  • know a 3-step process for using the Internet effectively to locate information.
  • know the key similarities and differences between a subscription database and a subject directory.
Materials: 
  • Sample books to use as examples.
  • Prepare a mock-up of a typed manuscript to represent books written but not sold.

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Preparation: 
  • Review Lesson 2 Slideshow for content prior to lesson. (Note that the presentation may need to be adapted for your specific situation before use.)
  • Collect sample books to use as examples.
  • Prepare a mock-up of a typed manuscript to represent books written but not sold.
  • Prepare copies of the Now You Try It! worksheet #2
  • Review subject directories and subscription databases available at your school to demonstrate to students.
Time Activity
5 min

Review

  • Review Lesson #1, availability of misinformation on Internet.
  • Discuss why students often end up with bad information: poor search strategies
15 min

Publication Process

  • Talk about use of librarian and teacher as primary resources. Books first!
  • Discuss the process of a book making it into a library as compared to a website making it out on the Internet
    1. Book: Author, Publisher, Editor, Bookstores, Reviewer, Librarian
    2. At each level, poorly prepared materials are weeded out.
    3. Internet: Author, Internet
    4. No selectivity—anyone can publish
20 min

Easy as 1 - 2 - 3
15 min

Now You Try It!

  • Students reconvene into pairs from Lesson 1
  • Each pair finds one basic fact about their explorer (e.g. birthdate) in three sources: a book, a subscription database, and a subject directory.
  • Students should record the source (basic bibliographic information) and the fact on the Now You Try It! worksheet.
  • Students compare the information they found with the fact at AllAboutExplorers.com and explain how they know that AAE is incorrect.
  • Save the fact worksheets for lessons 3 and 4.
5 min

Summary & Preview of future lessons

  • Review and emphasize the importance of pre-screening and selecting information in these sources
  • Next lesson will focus on effective use of search engines (step 3).