Where Exactly Am I?
Summary
Students learn about how to decode a URL and that it is the address for locating a web page. They also learn how to begin evaluating a site based on the top level domain (e.g. .com, .org, or .edu), as well as a few other tricks for determining the quality of the site.
Objectives
After this lesson, students will
- be able to state the function and purpose of a URL.
- recognize that top level domains (URL “endings”) are good clues to determine the purpose of a web site.
- understand that evaluation for quality is their own responsibility when using a search engine.
Materials
Preparation
- Review lesson 4 PowerPoint presentation for content prior to lesson. (Note that the presentation may need to be adapted for your specific situation before use.)
- Prepare copies of the Now You Try It! worksheet #4
Activities
| Time | Activity |
|---|
5
min | Review- Review Lessons #2 & #3, using subscription databases, subject directories and search engines
|
10
min | Knowing Where You Are- Direct students to the lesson 4 student page
- Where are you now? (School name)
- How do you tell someone else? (School address)
- A Web site has an address, too: Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
- Tells the computer where the site is located.
|
30
min | Top-Level Domains- URLs can tell you a great deal about what is at a site
- Assign students to one of the groups: North, South, East, or West. Have them click on the appropriate link on the student page and follow the instructions there to explore several web sites.
- Have each group share out what they learned.
- Top-level domains (.com, .org, .net, .edu, .gov) tell you what kind of person or organization runs the site:
- .com = commercial
- .org = organization (usually non-profit)
- .edu = educational institution (usually college)
- .gov = government agency
- .edu and .gov are restricted; others are available to anyone who wants to use them
- Personal web pages: the tilde (~)
- What can you trust and why?
- www.amazon.com has good information about books. Why? (Better info will sell more books and keep more customers.)
- www.fi.edu (Franklin Institute) had to prove they were educational to get a “.edu” address
- www.nasa.gov (space program)
|
5
min | Brief Intro to Evaluation- Author and/or organization name
- Date
- Factual information
|
15
min | Now You Try It!- Student pairs do a Google search for their explorer and select 5 sites to read in more detail based on analysis of the URL and the site summary.
- Choose two high-quality sites from your search and tell why you believe they will have useful and accurate information—use what you have learned in all of our lessons to support your choices.
|
10
min | Summary & Review- Review of all four lessons
- Discussion of key points
|
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