1. Evaluating Information on the Internet Faculty Development Workshop March 8, 2013 Donna L. Pattison, PhD Instructional Professor Department of Biology & Biochemistry

2. What the Studies Say…  Allen and colleagues (Nature, 1999) found that the vast majority of websites on subjects such as evolution (87.8%), genetically modified organisms (82.8%), and endangered species (73.6%) were inaccurate or misleading.  Dellavalle and colleagues (2003) found that 13% of the references in Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA that were 27 months old or older were no longer active. Only 55% of URLs in 1999 bibliographies led to the right site. Mintzes & Leonard (2006) Handbook of College Science Teaching. Chapter 14: NSTA press,p.137-138.

3. Discussion… Create a list of questions you ask yourself when evaluating information you read (journals, newspapers, Internet).

4. http://www.drmercola.net/food/dr-mercola-white-rice-cereal-is-not-a-healthy-baby- food/ Use your list to evaluate this article:

5. Caution: Dihyrogen Monoxide www.dhmo.org A great website built as a joke to promote the dangers of water. A fun cautionary tale about not believing everything you read on the Internet.

6. Reinforcement What topics in your area of expertise are you likely to find misleading or inaccurate information about on the Internet? What can you do to engage students in some critical thinking about this topic?