Info Tech Menu Set a Direction Accessing Information Processing Information Communicating Information Return to Eduscapes Accessing Information   Once you've set your direction, you're ready to explore the three major information technology areas: accessing, processing, and communicating information.   We'll start with accessing information. Ask yourself. Where in the curriculum do you need to locate, select, evaluate, and retrieve information? Keep in mind that you can't do everything all the time. Your best bet is to choose some specific outcomes for each activity and really be sure that students achieve those goals. For example, for a particular activity will new information be most useful as part of motivation, background, facts, or idea generating? Where in the world can we find good information? We might need variety, data sets, interpretations, current information, and original information. Let's take the example of a whales activity. You might start with a series of books or a view about whales. You might use the DK CD-ROM Nature to find about about the habitat of whales.   Locating Information   Varied Information. There are many good websites. Explore the following websites. Ask yourself. Which websites are at the developmental level of your students? Which have useful information? How will the information be used? Also consider the form of the information. Do your students need text, audio, video, or graphics?   http://whale.wheelock.edu/rightwhale/ http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/whale/index.htm http://www.EnchantedLearning.com/subjects/whales/ http://www.panda.org/kids/wildlife/mnwhale.htm http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/whalewatchsmyth.html http://whale.wheelock.edu/books/ksmyth/ http://www.whaleguide.com/picturebrowser4.htm http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/sounds/ http://newport.pmel.noaa.gov/whales/whale-calls.html http://whale.wheelock.edu/movies/ http://k12science.ati.stevens-tech.edu/realtimedatasites.html   Interpretations. One of the primary values of the Internet is the ability to find varied perspectives. This is also a problem. Students need to learn how to distinguish fact from opinion. You can find editorials, debates, discussions, forums, and many websites with multiple perspectives. Check out this perspective on whales.   Currency. Another important feature of information is currency. Select the sources that fits your need for currency. It might be live as it happens or a short delay such as ask-an-expert email or online news. It could be a longer delay such as a CD-ROM or book. Explore currency issues with whales webpages one and two.   Original Information. Sometimes you're seeking first-hand information such as a real field trip to the ocean. You might read interviews with a scientist or read a whale story. Your students might invent a whale tracking system or compile ideas and create a solution to a problem. Explore sources of real-time data.   Selecting/Evaluating Information Learning is about questioning. Help students identify an information need. Choose search tools. Select a search strategy and identify the type of information you need such as facts or opinions. Students also need help evaluating the quality of information including criteria such as currency, accuracy, and relevance. For example, students need to know the pros and cons of search tools for kids such as Ask Jeeves for Kids. They also need to evaluate the source of information. For example, look at the Threatened Species page. Determine the currency, accuracy, and relevance of the information on the page for a particular information need.   Retrieving Information You also need to consider activities that involve retrieving information. Will students print, copy/paste, or summarize information? Why? How can students use tools such as word processing, spreadsheets, and visual tools in information retrieval and organization? Do students know how to copy and paste clipart? Do they know the copyright implications of this type of activity?    Info Tech Menu Set a Direction Accessing Information Processing Information Communicating Information Return to Eduscapes   Created by Annette Lamb, 02/01.