WJEC GCSE Digital Technology - Topic 3 SA

Understanding Information Sources

• Plagiarism: The act of presenting someone else's words, ideas, or work as one's own, without proper citation or credit.

Fact vs. Judgment

• Fact: A statement that can be verified or proven true through evidence, observation, or measurement.
• Judgment: A statement that expresses an opinion, interpretation, or conclusion based on personal perspective or bias.

Reliable Information

• Reliable Information: Information that is accurate, trustworthy, and based on credible sources, which can be verified through evidence or expert consensus.

Verifying Information Online

• Solution 1: Lateral Reading: Opening multiple tabs to compare and contrast information from different sources, evaluating credibility, and checking for corroboration.
• Solution 2: Evaluating Sources: Assessing the credibility of a source by checking the author's expertise, publication date, and potential biases.

User-Generated Sources: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Accessibility: User-generated sources like Wikipedia are easily accessible and widely available.
• Collaborative Effort: Multiple contributors can collaborate to create a comprehensive and up-to-date resource.
• Diverse Perspectives: User-generated sources can provide diverse perspectives and opinions on a topic.

Disadvantages

• Lack of Expertise: Contributors may not have the necessary expertise or knowledge on a topic, leading to inaccurate or misleading information.
• Bias and Vandalism: User-generated sources can be vulnerable to bias, vandalism, and intentional misinformation.
• Quality Control: The quality of information can vary greatly, and errors may go unchecked.