21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Which of the following is the most
effective query for…
find the top speed of earth's fastest
animal?
 speed fastest animal
 what is earth’s fastest animal
 top speed earth’s fastest animal
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
How to find information and evaluate it
Carl Heine
Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Translating a question
into a query
Verifying the
credibility of
information
Finding better
keywords
Choosing the
best database
Recognizing
information
that’s relevant
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
What digital natives don’t do
well
What they tend to do instead
Turn a question into a query
Rush ahead toward an answer, either
grabbing the whole question “as is” or
missing an important part of it
Choose the right database
Enter words or phrases into Google
Recognize information when they
find it
Rush past important information and
clues, continue to browse
Find better keywords
Stick with their original words and
browse
Verify the credibility of information
Accept what they find at face value,
hoping somewhere in the information
there is an answer
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Google ‘digital natives’ and the top hit is:
http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf
“Digital Immigrant instructors,
who speak an outdated language
(that of the pre-digital age), are
struggling to teach a population
that speaks an entirely new
language.” (Prensky, page 2)
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
1. Translating a question into a query
 Starts with a question or a problem to solve.
 Task: Translate a natural language question or
statement into language that is understood by a
search engine.
 Search engines differ in how they process queries, but for
the most part, what works on one big commercial search
engine tends to work on the others.
 Search engines perform a variety of literal matching
functions with Boolean and special operators.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
1. Translating a question into a query
Which of the following is the most effective query
for find the top speed of earth's fastest animal?
 speed fastest animal
 what is earth’s fastest animal
 top speed earth’s fastest animal
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
1. Translating a question into a query
Research Findings (IMSA second semester sophomores)
 36% recognized the optimal query from a list of three
queries. Only 17% of seniors at a local high school identified
the optimal query.
 31% grasped that search engines perform literal matching.
 17% regularly use natural language queries.
 12% misinterpreted the research question. (compared to 8% of
college students and high school seniors on ICT Literacy Assessment –
ETS, 2006)
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
2. Selecting a good database
 This failure occurs before submitting the first query.
 Task: Predict where expert information may be found.
 No search engine performs a live Internet search when you
submit a query. (Otherwise, how could it come back with a
page that’s not found?)
 That which is stored in one search engine’s database is
invisible to another search engine (also called Enterprise
Data)
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
2. Selecting a good database
Research Findings (IMSA second semester sophomores)
 90% search with Google more than half of the time.
 32% use Google exclusively.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
3. Homing in: Relevant information
 This failure occurs when a student looks at the results
returned by a search engine.
 Task: Match findings with expectations, evaluate
relevance
 Information on the Internet is not always found in predictable
places.
 Computers are made for speed, which encourages haste.
 Hyperlinks and graphics can be distracting.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
3. Homing in: Relevant information
Research Findings (junior honors students)
 36% were able to identify web pages that contain
supporting research facts from a selection of three
pages.
 25% -- same task, middle school students
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
3. Homing in: Finding better Keywords
 This failure occurs throughout the search process: before the
initial query is submitted and as students look at the results
returned by a search engine.
 Task: Find and use increasingly specific keywords
 Frequently, effective keywords go unnoticed in snippets.
 Our claim: Effective searching depends on keyword selection
more than any other factor.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
3. Homing in: Finding better Keywords
Research Findings (high school)
 14% of IMSA sophomores used alternate keywords
when searching.
 7% of junior honors students chose effective alternate
words to find information.
 ICT Assessment: only 40% searched with multiple terms
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Evaluating credibility
 This failure occurs after information has been located.
 Task: Check the credibility of information, authorship
 Typically, students forego this decision altogether and
uncritically accept whatever information they find.
 Depending on which database the information was taken
from, information may be unedited, unendorsed and
inaccurate.
 Special operators (link:) makes external evaluation easier.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Evaluating credibility
 33% of Illinois schools report having a curriculum
method for teaching students to evaluate online
resources
 0% of junior honors students were able to use special
operators to evaluate the credibility of a web page.
 ICT Assessment comparison – 49% of test-takers identified
the one web site that met criteria for objectivity, authority and
timeliness.
Pacific NW Tree Octopus
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
How many buffalo are there
in North America today?
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
How much to
Questions
doask
I know about searching and this subject?
Novice searcher: Subject Directory
Well-versed and know some places to look: Browse
Know how to turn a question into a query: Search Engine
How many buffalo are there
in North America today?
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
How many
much important
do I know ideas
about are
searching
represented
and this
here?
subject?
Novice searcher: Subject Directory
Well-versed and know some places to look: Browse
Know how to turn a question into a query: Search Engine
How many buffalo are there
in North America today
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
How many will
important
I include
ideas
in aare
query?
represented here?
One important idea? There is probably more than one
2 – 3 important ideas: Include them both/all
4 or more: Search for only 3 if possible (“1 in 5 rule”)
How many buffalo are there
in North America today
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
How many
will I are
include
a query?
What
keywords
goodin“as
is?”
Proper
One
important
nouns: idea?
North There
America
is probably more than one
2 – 3 important
Numbers:
(the answer
ideas: will
Include
be a them
number)
both/all
4 or more: Search for only 3 if possible (“1 in 5 rule”)
How many buffalo are there
in North America today
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Buffalo Challenge
What keywords may
are good
need“as
to be
is?”
replaced?
Multiplenouns:
Proper
meanings:
Northbuffalo
America
Numbers: (the
Frequently
used
answer
in other
willcontexts:
be a number)
many
How many buffalo are there
in North America today
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Great Wall Challenge
Who first claimed that
China’s Great Wall can be
identified from space?
Keyword Challenge
Game
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Great Wall Challenge
Who first claimed that
China’s Great Wall can be
identified from space?
Keyword Challenge
Game
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Deep Web, Invisible Web
 Information that is stored in a different database than
the one you are searching now.
 Information that is “buried” deeper in the abstracts than
results from another database.
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
John Williams Challenge
Classical guitarist John
Williams has composed all
the music for only one
motion picture. What is the
name of the movie?
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
John Williams Challenge
Who wouldto
Questions
know
ask the answer and
how do I locate that person or
organization?
Classical guitarist John
Williams has composed all
the music for only one
motion picture. What is the
name of the movie?
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
John Williams Challenge
Who would know the answer and
how do I locate that person or
organization?
movie soundtrack database
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Viking Challenge
What type of
coins were
highly
treasured by
Vikings?
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Viking Challenge
*Ø* Wilson's Almanac free daily ezine | Vikings! | Folklore ...
What type of
coins were
highly
treasured by
Vikings?
The Cuerdale hoard is the largest Viking treasure trove found
outside of Russia. ... The coins found with the Cuerdale Hoard
reveal that it must have been ...
www.wilsonsalmanac.com/vikings.html - 82k - Cached - Similar
pages - Note this
Important Finds | Treasure Hunting
A hoard of treasure found in a field in Yorkshire could be one of
the most significant Viking discoveries in Britain, experts say.
The silver coins, sword ...
www.treasurehunting.tv/?cat=7 - 16k - Cached - Similar pages Note this
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Golf Cross
Challenge
What
compelling
evidence can
you find to
determine if
this is a real
sport or a
hoax?
www.golfcross.com
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Golf Cross
Challenge
Questions
How credible
to askis the source of the information?
Author
Publisher
Objectivity
Links used
www.golfcross.com
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Golf Cross
Challenge
How credible is the source
contentof
ofthe
theinformation?
information?
Author
Evidence
Publisher
Accuracy
Objectivity
Date
Links to
used
page
www.golfcross.com
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Susie Flynn Campaign Challenge
What source and content
information can you find that
discloses the true intent of this
campaign?
www.electsusie.com
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
Sorting Hat Test Challenge
Who is collecting research data
using this online test?
www.personalitylab.org/tests/ccq_hogwarts.htm
21st Century Information Fluency
21cif.imsa.edu
21cif.imsa.edu
21cif.com
internetsearchchallenge.blogspot.com
keywords: information fluency