Finding and Using Information

Curating Content curation is the process of sorting through the vast amounts of content on the web and presenting it in a meaningful and organized way around a specific theme. The work involves sifting, sorting, arranging, and publishing information. Content curation is not about collecting links or being an information pack rat, it is more about putting them into a context with organization, annotation, and presentation. Seek – Sense -- Share

Google Chrome Why use Google Chrome Create a Google Chrome Account Diigo What is social bookmarking Create a Diigo account Install Diigo extension Add school library to toolbar

Search Engines 1.Understand how search engines work 1.Indexed web sites 2.Results not recommendations 3.PageRank 4.Search engine optimization 5.Personalized search

Indexing Spiders Meta-tags Databases

PageRank works by counting the number and quality of links to a page to determine a rough estimate of how important the website is. The underlying assumption is that more important websites are likely to receive more links from other websites. PageRank

SEO – Search Engine Optimization Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid ("organic") search results. Wikipedia

Personalization

What is the biggest factor preventing students from doing an effective search?

Search Tips 1.Know your topic 1.How and when to use an encyclopedia – not for citing at the grade level 1.Wikipedia 2.Encyclopedia Britannica 3.Check out your school library web page(s) 2.Strategy: jot down as many keywords as you know – then beside them right alternative terms 3.Use more than one search engine. Access the Encyclopedia Britannica on your iOS device Username: sask Password: trial

Google Search Tips 1.Use Google Operators 1.“quotation marks” 2.The minus sign -query 3.Site: query 1.Livestock site:.gov 2.Livestock site:.gc.ca 3.Livestock site:.gov.sk.ca 4.Livestock site:.usask.ca 4.Country Search site:.uk 5.Define term

Google Search Tips Advanced readability level

Search Tips Read the Google result before clicking

The Invisible Web 1.Online sources available from your school library web site 1.Global Issues in Context 2.Canadian Points of View 3.ExpertSpace 4.Canadian Newstand To access Global Issues in Context on your iOS device – download the Access My Library – School Edition App Password – livingsky1

Twitter – new search tool 1.Follow the experts in your area of study 2.Follow hashtags # 3.Create streams of information coming to you 4.Use a desktop app such as Tweetdeck to monitor information 5.Remember tweets also need to be cited!

What is the biggest factor preventing students from effectively evaluating information? Website Evaluation

Evaluating Tips 1.Know your topic! 2.Triangulation – use two other sources to support the information 3.Purpose (blogs, tweets, social media, people) – consider these sources in the context of your own knowledge

R ead the URL E xamine the content A sk about author and owner L ook at the links

Read the URL Recognize the domain name? What is the name? What is the extension - what do they tell you?

Examine the content 1.Is the information useful and relevant to my topic? 2.Are additional resources and links provided? 3.Is the information current? When was it last updated? 4.Is there contradictory information? - triangulation

Ask About the Author and Owner 1.Name 2.Contact information 3.Biographical information 4.Results from a search on the author’s name Who owns the site? 1.Easywhois 2.domaintools What is the history of the site? 1.Wayback Machine

Look at the Links Forward links What are the URLS – use your curser Do the Domain names change? Is the information biased? – to the links lead to similar links or ones that offer opposing viewpoints Backward links (link:site) Who links to the website? What is the purpose of the link? What do other sites say about the information on the site?

Your Turn Evaluate one of the following sites: All About Explorers Victorian Robots The History of the Shuar

Citing Information 1.Use experts to support your point of view 1.Cite within text so your reader knows you know the experts 2.Include a reference/works cited page to tell your reader where they can find out more about what an individual has to say Use the review ribbon in Word to format your works cited page or use an online tool such as BibMe

Sharing Information 1.Share your project/learning online 2.Ask for feedback using Twitter 3.Respond to feedback 4.Revise your work accordingly 5.Use a tool such Weebly or a blogging platform to showcase your work