Finding and Using Information

Curating

Content curation is the process of sorting through the vast amounts of content on the web and presenting it in a meaningful and organized way around a specific theme. The work involves sifting, sorting, arranging, and publishing information.

Content curation is not about collecting links or being an information pack rat, it is more about putting them into a context with organization, annotation, and presentation.

Seek – Sense -- Share

Google Chrome

• Why use Google Chrome• Create a Google Chrome Account

Diigo• What is social bookmarking• Create a Diigo account

• Install Diigo extension• Add school library to toolbar

Search Engines

1. Understand how search engines work1. Indexed web sites2. Results not recommendations3. PageRank4. Search engine optimization5. Personalized search

IndexingSpidersMeta-tagsDatabases

PageRank works by counting the number and quality of links to a page to determine a rough estimate of how important the website is.

The underlying assumption is that more important websites are likely to receive more links from other websites.

PageRank

SEO – Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine's "natural" or un-paid ("organic") search results.

Wikipedia

Personalization

What is the biggest factor preventing students from doing an effective search?

Search Tips1. Know your topic

1. How and when to use an encyclopedia – not for citing at the grade 11-12 level 1. Wikipedia2. Encyclopedia Britannica3. Check out your school library web page(s)

2. Strategy: jot down as many keywords as you know – then beside them right alternative terms

3. Use more than one search engine.

Access the Encyclopedia Britannica on your iOS device Username: saskPassword: trial

Google Search Tips

1. Use Google Operators1. “quotation marks”2. The minus sign -query3. Site: query

1. Livestock site:.gov2. Livestock site:.gc.ca3. Livestock site:.gov.sk.ca4. Livestock site:.usask.ca

4. Country Search site:.uk5. Define term

Google Search Tips

Advanced readability level

Search Tips Read the Google result before clicking

The Invisible Web

1. Online sources available from your school library web site1. Global Issues in Context2. Canadian Points of View3. ExpertSpace4. Canadian Newstand

To access Global Issues in Context on your iOS device – download the Access My Library – School Edition App

Password – livingsky1

Twitter – new search tool1. Follow the experts in your area of study2. Follow hashtags #3. Create streams of information coming to you4. Use a desktop app such as Tweetdeck to monitor

information5. Remember tweets also need to be cited!

What is the biggest factor preventing students from effectively evaluating information?

Website Evaluation

Evaluating Tips

1. Know your topic!2. Triangulation – use two other sources to support the

information3. Purpose (blogs, tweets, social media, people) – consider

these sources in the context of your own knowledge

Read the URLExamine the contentAsk about author and ownerLook at the links

Read the URL

Recognize the domain name? What is the name? What is the extension - what do they tell you?

Examine the content

1. Is the information useful and relevant to my topic?2. Are additional resources and links provided?3. Is the information current? When was it last

updated?4. Is there contradictory information? - triangulation

Ask About the Author and Owner

1. Name2. Contact information3. Biographical information4. Results from a search on the author’s name

Who owns the site?1. Easywhois2. domaintools

What is the history of the site?1. Wayback Machine

Look at the LinksForward links• What are the URLS – use your curser• Do the Domain names change?• Is the information biased? – to the links lead to similar

links or ones that offer opposing viewpoints

Backward links (link:site)• Who links to the website?• What is the purpose of the link?• What do other sites say about the

information on the site?

Your Turn

Evaluate one of the following sites:

• All About Explorers• Victorian Robots• The History of the Shuar

Citing Information

1. Use experts to support your point of view1. Cite within text so your reader knows you know

the experts 2. Include a reference/works cited page to tell

your reader where they can find out more about what an individual has to say

Use the review ribbon in Word to format your works cited page or use an online tool such as BibMe

Sharing Information

1. Share your project/learning online2. Ask for feedback using Twitter3. Respond to feedback4. Revise your work accordingly5. Use a tool such Weebly or a blogging platform

to showcase your work