SIX Rules for Becoming a Computer Genius!

Information Literacy Meets Web 2.0 & Beyond

A Definition

• Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information (American Library Association, 1989)

Information <---> Technology

Information Sources in Education

PastTeachers + Text Books + Library + Web

Student “RECEIVES” Content

PresentStudent Receives AND

CREATES Content - Web 2.0

Kids

&

Computers

How Students Use Technology

• Chatting!• Games• Watching & uploading video• Downloading/sharing music• Social Networking• And …. MORE chatting!

How Students Find Information(The BIG THREE!)

1. Computer

2. Google

3. Wikipedia

Age of Information …or

Information Overload???

Information overload refers to the existence of, and ease of access to, bewildering amounts of Information, more than can be effectively absorbed or processed by an individual.

Rule #1READ THE SCREEN!!

Rule #2Rule #2

IT’S ALL ABOUT WORDS!!IT’S ALL ABOUT WORDS!!

Key Words for searching

Tags for organizing, retrieving, & sharing

Search for images of “flowers” in Flickr

Tags

Word Principle #1

Searching with Key Words Is Amazing!

Word Principle #2

SPELLING MATTERS!!

Word Principle #3Use Wild Cards To Find It All!

Wildcards and truncation symbols (* # ? !)

Use for words that have variant forms of spelling or different possible endings.

Child*

children

child

childhood

childish

Word Principle #4

Use “…” For Phrases(and know what a phrase is!)

Word Principle #5Boolean Searching Is Smart Searching!!

Baseline instruction for all students

Word Principle #5 (continued)

Boolean SearchingSame Process - Different Form

An Assortment of

Word Principle(s) #6

Last Name First

Sort Results

Alphabetical Order

Rule #3

Computers Are Dumb!!

Computers work only because PEOPLE work!

Rule #4Think Before You Compute!

(And Don’t Stop!)

Research Process

Report or Research??

REPORT Locating & rearranging facts on a topic of

interest (or an assigned topic!)

RESEARCHOriginates with a question or problem. Requires

the collection & interpretation of data.

Topic Definition

NO MORE DOG REPORTS!!!

• Too Broad• Regurgitating simple facts• Report vs. Research

Research Question

Which dog breed(s) make the best family pet?

dog dogs breed breeds best family families pet pets

dog* breed* famil* pet*KEYWORDS

ALTERNATES canine “man’s best friend” pooch puppyhousehold home companion

Rule #5Lots of Ways To Get There

Never only one “right” way to search

Searching Sources

NO WIKIPEDIA!!

(as the primary & only source)

NO GOOGLE!!(as the first step)

Better Sources

• OPAC - Card Catalog

• Electronic Encyclopedias

MEL Databases

• eLibrary - Full text articles, reference books, audio-visual, & transcripts

• SIRS Discoverer

Full text articles,reference books - encyclopedia & almanac, images

WEB SITES!

• InfoTrac Junior Edition - full text periodicals, E-books, reference books

• Kids InfoBits - full text kids magazine articles, reference sources, etc.

And hundreds MORE! http://www.mel.org/

Trusted Websites(Searched & Organized)

Research ResultsPresenting what is authentic and original

Presentation Possibilities• Power Point/SlideShare - data & images• Video - interviews & demonstration• Poster - graphs & charts• Text - pathfinder, illustrated paper, brochure, etc.• Web - blog, website, wiki, hotlist, webquest,

podcast, Animoto, etc. • Debate - engage differing results

The Possibilities are ENDLESS!!

Rule #6

What’s On the Internet, Stays on the Internet … FOREVER!!

Web Presence

Everybody Knows SarahBulletin Board

1/3 of one 8th grade class had posted a video

About 80% had a social networking site

Email - almost everyone

Future???

Information Literacy, Technology, & Students Now

Information & Technology Literate

Endless Possibilities!

Six Rules for Becoming a Computer Genius!!

• Read The Screen!

• It’s All About Words

• Computers Are DUMB!!

• Think Before You Compute

• Lots Of Ways To Get There

• What’s On The Internet STAYS On The Internet! (Forever!)