Accessing and Sourcing Information
Digital Information Fluency (DIF) is the ability to find, evaluate and use digital information effectively, efficiently and ethically. DIF involves knowing how digital information is different from print information; having the skills to use specialized tools for finding digital information; and developing the dispositions needed in the digital information environment. As teachers develop these skills and teach them to students, students will become better equipped to achieve their information needs. Digital Information Fluency is the ability to access and source information. It is the ability to search for correct information; how to figure out search engine results; how to make accurate inferences about information originating from a hyperlink and how to correctly source digital content.
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Knowing how, when, and where to access information on the Internet will grow to be an increasingly significant factor of digital media literacy. The availability of information resources and search technologies is expanding rapidly increasing the importance of effectively knowing how to access and reduce digital information into reliable forms of content extraction. This requires a new set of skills, strategies that are essential in accessing and successfully screening information.
To demonstrate how Web 2.0 Internet information has changed in complexity from simple searches to a more complex form is illustrated on the right of the page on Fragmentation of Information Sourcing. Information now comes from scattered Web 2.0 sources from a community of contributors that requires sense making by an individual interpreter. Teaching students about information assimilation is about knowing how, when, and where to access information on the Internet; will grow to be an increasingly significant factor of digital media literacy.
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Select activity guide to learn more about Accessing and Sourcing Information. The guide will provide information on how to search for correct information; how to figure out search engine results; how to make accurate inferences about information originating from a hyperlink and how to correctly source digital
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PolyCola
Search engines are becoming more refined and since the search engine boom of 1990 some companies are starting to create Meta search engines. A meta search engine like PolyCola provides a duel platform to enter search results. PolyCola allows the user to pick two search engines, Yahoo or Google, to run a search query, and then see the results displayed side by side. This comparative approach in viewing information access results allows the viewer to understand two fundamental aspects of accessing digital information. First, students can compare side by side the results as the results may vary to the information requested. Second, by looking for commonalities between the entries the search enhances the reliability of accessing information.
Gooru
Gooru is specifically designed for teachers to find study guides that are aligned to content standards. The search engine has multiple functions allowing for the establishment of personal learning networks that are specific to mastery of concepts. Teachers can differentiate instruction for individual students by using Gooru to find resources that are specific to individual learning needs. The search engine is directly tied to Open Educational Resources (OER) that provides free access to resources like digital textbooks, animation and instructional videos. Individual student Personal learning networks are based on performance assessments that are matched to suggested resources for mastery learning. Gooru can also be used as a resource for direct instruction when projected on an interactive whiteboard or screen.