So How Do You Find the Good Stuff?
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
Preparation
- Gather sample books to use as examples.
- Prepare a mock-up of a typed manuscript to represent books written but not sold.
- 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.
Activities
Time | Activity |
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5 min | Review- Review Lesson #1, availability of misinformation on Internet.
- Discuss why students often end up with bad information: poor search strategies
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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
- Book: Author, Publisher, Editor, Bookstores, Reviewer, Librarian
- At each level, poorly prepared materials are weeded out.
- Internet: Author, Internet
- No selectivity—anyone can publish
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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.
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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).
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