Evaluating Information

In your readings for this week, you learned about the importance of information literacy and fluency. You also read about the importance of helping learners develop the ability to evaluate information critically and competently. A number of “hoax” websites have been created to help educators teach these skills. Reflect on your exploration of the hoax websites provided in this week’s resources. What were your impressions of the legitimacy of these sites? What concerns do they raise for both children and adults? How can you use hoax websites to teach information literacy?

By Wednesday

Post a summary of your exploration of the hoax websites and address the importance of information literacy skills for schools and society.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings. As you read their responses, note those to which you would like to respond with advice, questions, comments, and/or encouragement.

By Sunday

Respond to two or more of your colleagues’ postings in any of the following ways:

• Build on something your colleague said.
• Explain why and how you see things differently.
• Ask a probing or clarifying question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Validate an idea with your own experience.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.
• Ask for evidence that supports the posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Reflect on what you learned in this activity and/or insights you gained this week.