CYBER LEARNING GURUS
Your distance learning helpmates.
Module 3:
finding and sharing
information online
Author: Mickey Angel T. Cortez, Cyber Learning Guru Contributor.
Date: August 11, 2020
In the previous module, you’ve learned how to be a master of online study by and of itself. While having polished study skills is advantageous for your distance learning journey, still, more skills have to be developed since undergraduate studies are not merely about readings, memorization, and exam-taking. In cases at most, we are asked to synthesize knowledge based on the lessons, be it an essay, write-up, reaction paper, or proper research work. Professors uphold high expectations of higher education students. From the manner we treat them and our fellow students, up to the quality of our submissions. Therefore, each coursework where we are tased to create includes the inevitable task of researching.
Sure, Google is our ally. Being one click away, it is available for anyone’s disposal as long as they have an internet connection. So, ostensibly, digging some information online is not that gargantuan of a task. Or is it? If you come to think of it, the dilemma is actually not being able to find the information which you need, but the method of your retrieval in the seemingly endless continuum of information in the Web. More crucial discussion lies in whether the information you unearthed in the first place is an accurate one. With the rampant fake news, falsified statements, and manipulated data in order to catch the public’s eye, how will you be an information literate individual in cyberspace?
Section 1:What is information literacy?
Section 1:What is information literacy?
Let us tackle the first piece of the bigger picture by establishing the term, literacy, which is being able to read and write. Surely, you have that ability; otherwise, you will fail to get accepted in your college/university.
Information literacy, though, might be a different case. It refers to the skill set required for efficient finding, retrieval, analysis, and utilization of information. In a traditional sense, information literacy entails the concept of library searching, as demonstrated by the infographic below. However, we will mainly tackle information literacy in an online sense for the sake of relevance.
In addition, Here is a contextualized definition Information Literacy from UNESCO (2013, "Information Literacy" section, par. 3):
“In a digital world, information literacy requires users to have the skills to use information and communication technologies and their applications to access and create information. For example, the ability to navigate in cyberspace and negotiate hypertext multimedia documents requires both the technical skills to use the Internet as well as the literacy skills to interpret the information.”
Concepts such as critical thinking, metacognitive processes, and procedural knowledge possess an involvement with Information literacy (Koltay, 2011). To expound, here are the traits of an information literate individual according to OU LIbraries:
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Able to determine the scope and limitation of the required information
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Well-informed of the know-hows of accessing the needed information effectively and efficiently
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Can critically assess the quality information and its source
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Able to Incorporate information selectively into his/her pre-existing knowledge base
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Can successfully accomplish a certain purpose through the information retrieved
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Well-informed of the economic, legal, and social aspects of the information, and therefore approaches and uses the information within ethical and legal bounds.
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If these abilities resonate with you, then they increase the probability of you, thriving in distance learning. If they don’t, fret not; the term, “abilities” implies that they can be learned through time. The succeeding activities and sections below will be your guide.
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Activity 1
Reflection on Information Literacy
(Modern Librarian Memoirs, 2017)
Watch the video and reflect on the following questions:
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1. Why do we need information literacy in our lives?
2. What are the benefits of being an information literate individual?
3. Explain the Six Concepts of Information Literacy in plain English.
Source: Infographics Hunter, 2017
Section 2: Information
Literacy and Online
Learning
The current century of today is hailed as the era of the information highway. With the technological advancements and fewer restrictions owed to the advanced technologies and algorithms, there is a sudden surplus of information; meaning, the supply exceeds the demand. In light of this, students usually face information overload or that point when their cognitive capacity is transcended by the information they have to process, filter, and select for the fulfillment of coursework.
Being a student myself, I get to experience this too, from time to time. In fact, if you were to ask me, one of the major challenges of online learning/online researching, in general, is not knowing which information to consider as useful or not especially when the topic is multi-dimensional, ambiguous, and complex. Oftentimes, getting started with information research is the toughest part to do. Indeed, you and I are not alone, as evidenced by the findings of this study as illustrated by the infographic on the right:
Section 2: Information
Literacy and Online
Learning
Source: Project Information Literacy Contributors, 2020
In light of the foregoing, information literacy is a must-have skill of every student regardless of their education level. Being an information literate will pre-determine your success in this mode of education where you are independent and personally responsible for your own learning. Unlike in a traditional set-up, the information you have to learn in a distance learning mode of education is not spoon-fed to you by the professor in his/her lectures. Instead, the main references of information are modules, supplemented by other course materials such as videos, images, and journal articles online. However, no matter how detailed the modules or course materials are, seeking other resources aside from what’s given is a usual occurrence before you can fully grasp the lesson.
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According to Ranaweera (2008) - a senior lecturer at the University of Colombo, having information literacy skills is empowering as they equip the individual with critical thinking skills, consequently aiding them to become independent life-long learners. The term, “life-long learner” is in view of the fact that it is impossible for us to learn everything about the fields we are currently pursuing in our respective universities. Thus, it is inevitable that we will get to learn information elsewhere, such as from our future colleagues; it is our task to evaluate the truthfulness of such information.
Besides, all throughout our existence, we will be needing the help of the Internet in order to learn even the most quotidian tasks imaginable such as how to cook rice properly or how to fix a tire. It is embedded in our psychological instincts to turn to Google in order to learn how to do something; this, in essence, is also a form of learning online. In other words, the utility of information literacy is not exclusive to learning in an academic sense but also in one's personal wrestle with life. In addition, being able to sagaciously discern which information will be a boon or bane is a significant aspect of one’s cognitive ability and also a factor affecting one’s success in distance learning set-up.
Mickey Angel T. Cortez. 2020.
This image is licensed under CC BY-ND.
Section 3: Finding High-Quality Information Online
Section 3: Finding High-Quality Information Online
Information in the library and on the Web differ, although e-books are present in the latter. Thus, finding high-quality information online requires a distinct set of rules and guidelines. Here are some key differences between the information obtained from the library and online:
By this comparison, you would notice how the information you will acquire from the internet is less likely to be consistent and high quality than to what you would obtain from the library. Thus, being a critical thinker plays a crucial part in your process of filtering and selecting. A critical thinker is one who seeks beyond the superficial, face-value content and constantly questions the authenticity, credibility, and authority of the information. In addition, this type of individual is not gullible and immediately reactive to the information he/she confronts. Acting as a judge in a courtroom, a critical thinker weighs the information as “innocent or guilty.”
We keep on mentioning “high-quality information” but how do we even define the terms and conditions of high quality? The abstract concept of quality in the context of information is defined by the accuracy, authority, and immutability of its content, source, database, and type of medium used for delivery, respectively. A piece of ideal information online is well-written and well-edited, derived from esteemed sources and authorities, delivered in a format that is not able to be modified easily, and stored in a secured and generally trusted database.
Section 3.1: Interactive Checklist of
Factors to Consider Before Incorporating a
Piece of Information Online into Your Work:
1. Append the keyword, “PDF” or “pdf” to the terms you are originally searching for in order to increase your efficiency in obtaining journal articles, research studies, or official handbooks pertinent to your topic. ​
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2. If you find valuable or intriguing information in the primary source which cites another author, consider proceeding in the references section of the written work to look for the particular secondary/tertiary source online. Then, read and cite it instead. The purpose of this is to ensure that the information has not been misinterpreted or distorted by the primary author.
Tips!
By asking these questions, you will be able to apply the principles of critical thinking when faced with a situation wherein you need to gather a slew of sources to back up your claims/expand your knowledge. In addition, you will be able to set the demarcating between trustworthy information from those which are not.
According to UNESCO (2013), “digital technology and social platforms are conduits of the information disorder” Needless to say, these are the types of information to be avoided. A Venn Diagram is provided below in order to differentiate the following:
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Disinformation
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Misinformation
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Mal-information
Mickey Angel T. Cortez. 2020. This image is licensed under CC BY-ND.
In addition, here’s a video by Shout Out UK (2020) differentiating the three terms:
Section 3.2: Red Flags and Recommended
Sources of Information
Red Flags
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Exaggerated and hyperbolic headlines (e.g., I can’t believe that… xxx!). This audience-baiting tactic is rapidly proliferating and prevalent in the online world where more views and clicks translate to more advertisers investing on a site/channel.
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Misspelled words. Bad grammar.
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No public information about the authors/contributors.
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Blogs/Websites with no author and date of publication.
Recommended Sources
of Information
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Journal Articles
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Theses/Dissertations/Laboratory Findings
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OERs from organizations such as Crash Course, GCF Global, and Khan Academy which all offer visually engaging, and well-researched educational materials about diverse spectrum of topics without subscription or payment.
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Website ending with a domain name of .edu
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Digital version of books (e-books).
1. Although you are basing on sources that are likely to be credible and authentic, you still need to be skeptical of the details. Read the methodologies of the study and do not base its credibility and accuracy on its title. Look at the scope and limitations of the study so you can infer the margin of error for yourself in case these were not stated explicitly by the researchers. It could either be that the sample was too small or too generalized for the findings and conclusion to be valid.
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2. If you think that a piece of information online is credible yet no visible date of publication is visible, you can follow some tricks of finding it out by checking out this link: https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2019/07/tips-and-tricks-how-to-find-a-publication-date-of-a-website-blog-article.html. What usually works for me is trick number 6!
Tips!
Section 4: why is Wikipedia not a trusted academic source?
Section 4: why is Wikipedia not a trusted academic source?
This question usually crops up in the mind of students when the professors prohibit them from using Wikipedia as a source. Should you eschew it as a source of information by all means? The stand of Wikipedia in your online learning journey is not as your archenemy but not your main ally as well.
In my previous course, Communication Skills 2, we were tasked to read this article entitled, “Wikipedia Is Good For You?!” by James Purdy (2010). From there I’ve learned three benefits of Wikipedia in our academic journey:
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It can be a good starting place to have a bigger picture or general sense of your topic/s.
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You will be able to craft more insightful search terms
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By visiting the references it provides at the bottom of the webpage, you will be provided with a set of hyperlinks at your disposal for the topic about which you are seeking knowledge.
Wikipedia Page Screenshot (Chesser, 2019)
To answer the question, however, also stated in the article by Purdy (2010) are the reasons why Wikipedia is stigmatized in the field of academe.
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Open Participation - everyone connected to the internet can contribute to a Wikipedia article, regardless of their educational attainment and competence pertinent to the topic. Consequently, articles are susceptible to information disorders.
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Changeability - the same Wikipedia article you’ve read today might not be the same tomorrow. Since Wikipedia articles are collaborative works and are always open for discussions, mutations are frequently made in the articles, whether to expound or correct them. Thus, unlike the stable information you’d see in a tangible book, a Wikipedia article is totally different by being inconsistent with the information it displays.
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Shallow Coverage - Articles in Wikipedia and academic research works do not belong into the same genre of writing. Thus, Wikipedia is not as advanced as other sources of information in terms of depth, quality, and coverage. Thus, it can solely be useful to some extent as a general overview but not as a primary source to quote or on which you can depend for your arguments and supporting ideas.
Activity 2
Ted Talk Reflection
(TEDx Talks, 2017)
Watch the video and reflect on the following questions:
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1. How are sponsored editorials affecting the quality of information that is being delivered?
2. Does fake news have real-world consequences? If so, what are these?
3. What are the preventive steps to avoid getting misled by fake news?
Activity 3
Explore OERs
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Visit the GCFLearnFree’s website and visit the Youtube Channel of Crash Course and find a topic that will pique your interest.
(PBS Digital Studios, 2017)
Section 5: Sharing information online - the proper way
Section 5: Sharing information online - the proper way
After gathering information and using them for the creation of your own work, time will come when you will have to contribute that work into the academic realm. In this part, what is required of you is your awareness of the ethical and legal provisions in sharing information. There is Zero tolerance for plagiarism in the field of academe, and therefore, being familiar with terms in which you can share your work which would not have been possible without the sources/references you’ve found. Proper citation is taught in every university and there is not only one way to do it properly. There are 200 citation styles galore from which an academic institution can standardize one within their community.
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To avoid plagiarism, you can use a citation generator such as MyBib for citing your sources. However, do so with a grain of salt. Although convenient to use, there is a caveat in these generators; sometimes, they do not provide an accurate format, so it is still best to check the result manually before pasting it on your paper.
note
As a producer, it is crucial to set the boundaries which should limit and inform the users regarding the extent of your work’s openness. Openness is a principle of Open Educational Resources (OERs) such as this module you are reading. It simply means that OERs differ from usual websites in a way that they are licensed to be open, giving permission to its users to do more with the material and content beyond what mere access can provide.
Section 5.1: Creative Commons
OERs and Creative Commons (CC) go hand-in-hand towards knowledge-building. Thus, you should be aware and knowledgeable of both. Creative Commons is a nonprofit organization that serves as a license-provider to the authors and creators of materials who wish to share their works publicly under official terms and conditions. There are six types of licenses provided by Creative Commons ranging from less restrictive to most restrictive: ​
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Click on each link to know more.
"Creative Commons Infographic: Licenses Explained" (Hopkins, 2013a)
I hope the tips and tricks I've shared contribute to your success as a fulltime online learner for the first time. Equipped with the right mindset and set of principles, the internet is a boon to inquisitive information seekers like you and I. If you’re curious to know more, feel free to check out the references below.
last note
"Creative Commons Infographic: Licenses Explained" (Hopkins, 2013b)
references:
references:
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Anafo, P., & Filson, C. (2014). Promoting Information Literacy among Undergraduate Students of Ashesi University College. (1032). Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=2497&context=libphilprac#:~:text=Information%20Literacy%20in%20Higher%20Education
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Derakhshan, H., & Wardle, C. (2017). Information Disorder: Definitions. In First Draft News (pp. 5–12). Retrieved from John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. website: https://firstdraftnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Disinformation-Ecosystem-20180207-v3.pdf?x17007
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Koltay, T. (2011). The media and the literacies: media literacy, information literacy, digital literacy. Media, Culture & Society, 33(2), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443710393382
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Malik, D. (2019, July 19). Unable To Find The Published Date Of A Web Page? Here Are 6 Hacks To See It. Retrieved from Digital Information World website: https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2019/07/tips-and-tricks-how-to-find-a-publication-date-of-a-website-blog-article.html
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Ranaweera, P. (2008). Importance of Information Literacy Skills for an Information Literate Society. Retrieved from https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/11884153.pdf
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UNESCO. (2013). Information literacy | United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Retrieved August 11, 2020, from www.unesco.org website: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/information-literacy/
media sources:
media sources:
Chesser, L. (2019). Wikipedia page screenshot. In Unsplash Website. Retrieved from https://unsplash.com/photos/D8QbsYyiFmw/info
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Hopkins, D. (2013a). Creative Commons Infographic: Licenses Explained. In David Hopkins / Learning Design & Learning Technology. Retrieved from https://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/elearning/creative-commons-infographic-licenses-explained/
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Hopkins, D. (2013b). Creative Commons Infographic: Licenses Explained – David Hopkins / Learning Design & Learning Technology. In David Hopkins / Learning Design & Learning Technology. Retrieved from https://www.dontwasteyourtime.co.uk/elearning/creative-commons-infographic-licenses-explained/
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Infographics Hunter. (2017). Educational infographic: The ABCs of Information Literacy Infographic. In Infographic Now. Retrieved from https://infographicnow.com/educational/educational-infographic-the-abcs-of-information-literacy-infographic-e-learning-infographics-2/
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Modern Librarian Memoirs. (2017). What is Information Literacy? [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbe6xBibOL4&t=7s
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PBS Digital Studios. (2017). PBS Digital Studios and Hank and John Green Announce New Partnership to Expand Popular “CRASH COURSE” YouTube Series. In PBS Digital Studios Website. Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/pbs-digital-studios-and-hank-and-john-green-announce-new-partnership-to-expand-popular-crash-course-youtube-series/
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Project Information Literacy Comtributors. (2020). What is PIL? In Project Information Literacy. Retrieved from https://www.projectinfolit.org/uploads/2/7/5/4/27541717/pil_infographic__3x.png
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Shout Out UK. (2020). How to understand Misinformation, Disinformation, and Malinformation [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD5MmuLDeFE
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TEDx Talks. (2017). Information Literacy | Kevin Arms | TEDxLSSC [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BAfs_oDevw