1. Skill Lesson 2

2.  Evaluate the effectiveness of different online resources.  Examine online resources to determine their credibility as a source of information.  Explore events in Sudan & assess whether Darfur can be considered a genocide.

3.  What are the different purposes people have for putting information online?  How might these different purposes affect how information is presented?  Inform, Entertain, Persuade, Sell Product.  Content included/left out, look of page, level of editing

4.  Is the info current?  Does the site provide full understanding of topic? Complete picture or biased?  Can the info be verified by additional, outside sources?  Can the info on the site be used for different purposes?

5.  Author Credibility  Abstract-summary of report, study, article  References-well documented info throughout work and at end  Other sources can be credible an appropriate for research without being scholarly! (Popular journals like TIME, Newsweek, The Economist)

6.  “From whose lens are you viewing the news?” There is no such thing as a neutral sources. There is always some degree of bias or an angle. If there is, what is it?  Western news has a Western European/American point of view  Non-Western sources come from the locations themselves. Ex- Al Jazeera, Africa Daily  BBC and International Herald Tribune- where do they fall?

7.  Web 2.0 has made info available to us instantaneously… Breaking news 24/7 Twitter, Facebook, blogging  Pros: can be primary source material, immediate  Cons: not always editorial process, material not checked for fact/bias

8.  http://www.progressio.org.uk/blog/news/say- no-terminator-seeds-become-seedsaver http://www.progressio.org.uk/blog/news/say- no-terminator-seeds-become-seedsaver  What is the website’s purpose?  Who is behind the screen?  Is the information biased in any way?  Is information up to date?  What purpose would we use this info for? Why?

9.  Video Clip “Our Choice Too – On the Edge in Darfur”  Why is there conflict in Darfur?  What factors are at the root of this conflict?  What kind of violence is being perpetrated?  What is the role of the international community in the conflict?  http://www.choices.edu/re sources/twtn_darfur_video s.php http://www.choices.edu/re sources/twtn_darfur_video s.php

10. Use the following websites to complete the “Evaluating Online Information” handout with your partner:  www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/sudan/relationshipsa.html www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/sudan/relationshipsa.html  www.state.gov/p/af/ci/su www.state.gov/p/af/ci/su  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/def ault.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/sudan/def ault.stm  http://www.unsudanig.org/ http://www.unsudanig.org/  http://www.mirayafm.org http://www.mirayafm.org  http://www.eyesondarfur.org/index.html http://www.eyesondarfur.org/index.html  http://www.darfurianvoices.org/ee/index.php?/about/about_u s/ http://www.darfurianvoices.org/ee/index.php?/about/about_u s/  http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/atrisk/region/s udan http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/take_action/atrisk/region/s udan

11.  Were some websites more effective than others? Why?  What types of sources were the most effective?  Which websites had the most variety in their sources? The least? Why?  Do the sources presented on the websites change the way you feel about Darfur?  Do you think the conflict in Darfur is genocide?  How should the US and international community respond? What are their obligations?

12.  Why is it important to be so thorough in evaluating our sources of online information?  Post info for different reasons  Reason influences what is posted  Must sort to determine relevance & reliability

13.  Find a new website that elaborates upon/relates to your African conflict.  Complete “Evaluating Online Information” organizer for this new website.