Week 5: Critical Analysis of Information

Week 5 Reflection

I just wanted everyone to know I have just "revived"  my Delicious account and have added Dr. W. to my network.  I look forward to being a part of yours. 

     I found trom the pre test there was a lot of information about web sites I did not know and did not know how to obtain.  I learned how to verify information and to determine the motivation of the site developer.  I also learned how to obtain the history of the site.  This exercise was very enlightening.  

      This assignment has given me the tools to go more in depth with my interent research.  These are additional sources to verify credibility.  I first refer to my intuition, but then confirm with more expert opinion and verification. 

       I am confident that the information I have selected from the Internet has been credible.  I obtained my research skills before computers were used in libaries and classrooms.  With this manual research I learned to authenticate sources.  I have transferred the skill to internet research.  No matter what source I find, I always verify.

     As an educator I am concerned about the studnts' ability to differentiate fact from fiction, opinion from fact and objective reporting from propaganda.  If we fail to teach our students to read and research critically, their adult decions will be compromised as will society.

      I see Delicious as an electonic file cabinet stored on the interent.  Not only is everyhting in one place, it is stored on the interent.  The ability to tag the sites and write a description is helpful for speedy retreival and an excellent organizational tool.  I see it not only as an academic tool, but a personal tool for me which will help with my family history research.

     I am always finding sites and sending them to teachers as a part of my coaching responsibilities.  This would be a great networking source amoung coaches and teachers.  I am looking forward to populating my site.  The site which appeared to be the best fit for me other than delicious was http://www.diigo.com/ .  I am looking forward to exploring this site.