Beth CooperBeth Cooper

Definition of Digital LiteracyDefinition of Digital Literacy According toAccording to www.www.techlearningtechlearning.com.com

Digital literacy is a means for ascertaining the computer

skills competency of an individual to function in the

workplace.

Definition of Digital LiteracyDefinition of Digital Literacy According to Beth CooperAccording to Beth Cooper

Having the skills to discern reliable

information from non-reliable information on

the Internet.

End of the InternetEnd of the InternetTree OctopusTree Octopus

Holocaust DenialHolocaust Denial

Unreliable websites can range from playful to painful . . .

Unfortunately Many Students . . . Unfortunately Many Students . . .

•do not critically analyze the information they find on the internet

•use only one website to complete their research.

There are more There are more unreliable websites unreliable websites students can find students can find on the Internet.on the Internet.

DHMO ActivityDHMO ActivityA good in-class activity A good in-class activity you can do with your you can do with your

students.students.

What is DHMO?

Dihydrogen Monoxide http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

The name of the award winning scientist who

conducted research on DHMO.

Nathan Zohner

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

Two dangers associated with

DHMO.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

•Death due to accidental inhalation

•Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.

Well-known uses for DHMO.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

•in nuclear power plants,•by elite athletes to improve performance,•in the production of Styrofoam

Symptoms of accidental overdose.

http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html

•Excessive sweating

•Excessive urination

•Bloated feeling

DHMO is DHMO is waterwater

Look Again

Local Officials nearly fall Local Officials nearly fall for H2O Hoaxfor H2O Hoax

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - City officials were so concerned about the potentially dangerous properties of dihydrogen monoxide that they considered banning foam cups after they learned the chemical was used in their production.

Other Hoax Websites:Other Hoax Websites:

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie

Boilerplate

Feline Reactions to Bearded Men

We need to teach We need to teach students how to students how to

evaluate the evaluate the reliability of website reliability of website

information.information.

Trustworthiness of AuthorTrustworthiness of Author

•Is the author identified by name?

•Is contact information given?

•Is the place where the author works or the organization he/she belongs to given?

•Has the author won any awards?

•Does the author give his/her credentials?

•Is the site’s domain .org, .edu, .gov, or .mil?

•Are there links to other websites or another way to verify the information?

•Is the site free of spelling, typographical, grammatical errors?

Trustworthiness of AuthorTrustworthiness of Author

Up-to-Date InformationUp-to-Date Information

•Is the date the site was created given?

•Is the date last revised given

•Do all the links lead to active pages?

Purpose of SitePurpose of Site

•Can you tell if the site is fact or opinion?

•Does the site have advertising?

•Is the site sponsored by any organizations?

•Is the tone calm and fair?

Ease of UseEase of Use

•Is the type easy to see?

•Is there a “What’s New” section?

•Is there a site map?

•Is there a tool for searching the site?

•Are links labeled clearly and go where you expect them to go?

Compare Two Websites Compare Two Websites on Ozoneon Ozone

Environmental Protection Agency

The Whole Truth about the Ozone

Activities obtained from Classroom Zone McDougal Littell http://www.classzone.com/books/research_guide/page_build.cfm?state=none&content=web_eval&u=1

You could have your students

design their own evaluation form . . .

Another element of Another element of digital literacy is . . . digital literacy is . . .

teaching students how to investigate an email before forwarding it to

their entire address book.

Here is a common email Here is a common email myth:myth:

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a phone and, between breaths, call for help.

Verify this email . . .

Other elements of Digital Literacy Other elements of Digital Literacy include verifying hoax emails.include verifying hoax emails.

Common Urban Legends

http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hoaxes/hoax2.asp

http://www.stopthathoax.com/

Hoax Virus E-mail:

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

What is a site What is a site domain?domain?

.mil .mil .gov .gov .edu .edu .org .org .com.com

More Reliable

Less Reliable