Can't you just Google it?

For the past few weeks, we have been introduced to many new web 2.0 tools. Along with these, new terminologies came about. One thing that remained constant when discussing any web tools is the importance of Information Literacy (critical literacy).

Each user of the World Wide Web needs to be able to distinguish accurate information from a range of data available. They need to not believe everything that comes up on their computer screen. Due to the increasing number of young users of the Internet, it has become vital for schools to educate their students on

"When and what information is needed, locate and obtain it from a range of sources and evaluate, use and share it with others”

- Overarching Outcome 3, Curriculum Framework, p. 21

Young users need to acquire skills on how to analyze information presented online and not just accept it as gospel truth. As there is a global demand for information technology, today, it has become vital for educators to incorporate this into their curriculum. That being said, ICT in the classroom is not as easy as assigning students to do research on projects using the Internet. We need to teach young students on how to question the origin of the information they find online. Students need to know how to look at the source of any data they find on the web. Where has it been posted? Who is the author? By asking such key questions, students are able to critically analyze the accuracy and authenticity of the information. Students also need to have a base line of knowledge to compare what they read online with. Thus, before assigning work on the Internet, educators have to ensure that students have prior knowledge on the topic, so that they are able to narrow their searches. These skills of information literacy should be taught to users as soon as they are able to read and write.

A user who is not equipped with information literacy skills may navigate the murky waters of the web to his detriment. As there are few gatekeepers guarding the authenticity of information found online, the responsibility falls on each user to assess online material. Search engines are only useful when we know what we are looking for. It is futile to type in generic terms into a search engine and rely on the hierarchy of the results page to give an accurate finding. Google search engine for instance, is a great tool to look for information, provided you have a base line of knowledge on what you are looking for. It is well-known that the Google results page is based on a popularity contest. Thus, the top website featured may or may not provide accurate information. It is not is the user’s best interest to use Google’s ranking system as a bench mark for reputable information.

I find the video below very informative on this topic;

Before we begun 'clicking away' into the countless web pages of information found online, we need to be responsible users of the web. Information literacy is not merely having the skill to spot a bogus website from a reputable one. It is about having prior knowledge on any information before looking to seek in depth data from the web. The objectivity of the article, the relevance of the information, the source/origin of the data are some of the key elements to analyze when doing online research. It is crucial for young users to learn these skills.