Digital Literacy: Searching the Web

Digital Literacy: Searching the World Wide Web

• Learning Outcomes:
  • Obtain information from online sources and describe the sources used.
  • Choose information from online sources and give reasons for choices.
  • Explain how online searches select and show useful information.

Four Golden Rules for Searching the Web

• Choose the right key words:

  • Understand the question.
  • List key words.
  • Underline the most important key words.
  • The search query should contain important keywords.
  • Avoid using punctuation or short joining words.

• Choose the right search engine:

  • Many search engines (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo) are available.
  • Experiment with different search engines to find the best one for you.
  • Some search engines are designed for young people.
  • These engines offer advantages like easier-to-read links and fewer inappropriate websites.

Bookmarking Favourite Sites

• Bookmarks make finding websites in the future faster.
• Websites found useful in the past can offer relevant information.

Search Engine Works

• The web has 1.9 billion websites.
• A pile of 76,000 books containing 1.9 billion words is approximately 400 meters tall (similar to the height of the Burj Khalifa).
• Search engines use web crawling (spiders). The search engine sends a piece of software to crawl around the web and collect information.
• The spider records every word on a web page and counts how many times each word is used. Then the spider follows links on the web page and records the words from those new pages.
• The spider eventually visits and records every web page on the web.
• The search engine sends this collected information back to itself and stores it in a special list (index).

Search Results

• Search engines try to display the most helpful links at the top of the list.
• Popularity of a page (how many other sites link to it) is a factor.
• How recently the page's content was updated plays a role.
• Whether or not a website is trustworthy is considered.
• Adverts are often displayed.

Choosing Web Content

• Checklist:
  • Who wrote the content: Look for reliable sources (government, charities, universities, etc.).
  • Who wrote the webpage: Look for writers' names, job titles, and contact information.
  • Is the content up-to-date: Look for the last updated date, especially for technology topics.
  • Is the page appropriate for your age: Is it too complicated or simple ? Are there words you don't understand?
  • Is the content relevant: Does the page answer your question?
  • Does the page give facts or opinions: Can a claim be checked to verify its truth?
  • Important Considerations: Be wary of overly simple or overly complex information.

Giving Credit

• Copyright protects your creations.
• Give credit to the original author by citing the following four pieces of information: Author, title of the article or webpage, website, and date the work was created or accessed.

Using Photos

• Photos can make projects more engaging.
• Some photographers allow free use under a creative commons license.
• You should always credit the photographer for photos used in your work.
• Plagiarism is presenting someone else's work as your own, including photos.

Web Challenge

• Create fact sheets on topics like big cats, famous scientists, or capital cities.
• Divide the work among team members.
• Choose websites with helpful information.
• Assemble findings into the fact sheets.

Test your knowledge on how to effectively search the World Wide Web. This quiz covers key concepts including selecting appropriate keywords, choosing the right search engines, and utilizing bookmarks to manage favorite sites. Enhance your digital literacy skills with practical insights from this resource.