The Google Effect and Expertise Issues

The Google Effect

• This article examines the consequences of the "Google Effect" or the flattening of expertise on librarians and educators
• The proliferation of blogs, wikis, and readily available information online has created a need to evaluate information sources critically
• The problem is not the quantity or banality of information, but the lack of skills to distinguish quality from mediocrity
• Librarians and educators face the challenge of helping students critically evaluate online information and develop good research practices.

Democracy and Expertise

• Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, is considered a champion of internet-enabled egalitarianism.
• However, the article argues that Wikipedia's approach to information creation is problematic by prioritizing popularity over expertise.
• The article highlights that a "social Darwinian" process (Wikipedia's inherent method of allowing anyone to edit) can lead to mediocrity.

Flattening of Expertise

• The reliance on easily accessible information sources like Google, blogs, and wikis can negatively affect critical thinking skills and the importance of scholarly methods in students
• The article discusses how the readily accessible information on the internet, in many cases, creates a superficial and unverified knowledge base
• The article argues that the lack of critical evaluation of sources, and the lack of expertise in interpreting and contextualizing the information is a serious issue for educators and students. It is not the mere presence of the information itself that is problematic, but the way in which students encounter and utilize that information.

Proliferation of Google

• Google's search engine, with its simplicity and ease of access, encourages a superficial approach to research
• The popularity of a website, as measured by the number of links to it ("PageRank"), can be used to determine quality
• This approach can lead to students prioritizing popularity over actual research.
• The proliferation of blogs and wikis can lead to the spread of inaccurate or biased information without proper fact-checking
• Students often adopt superficial research habits when Googling, without examining the source's credibility or scholarly rigor
• The Google Effect raises concerns about the value of reading, research, writing, and critical thinking in education.

Speed vs. Accuracy

• Blogs often prioritize speed and immediacy over accuracy.
• Many bloggers exhibit self-confidence and provide opinions without proper research
• This approach is problematic, as it may not reflect well-researched conclusions and is often based on personal opinions
• Articles can be edited and altered with ease within Wikipedia, and students should be trained to evaluate these sources correctly before using them
• Google and other similar search engines can easily return biased or misleading information and this should be carefully evaluated

Flattening of Expertise in Education

• The article discusses how the readily available and often-biased information online can negatively impact students' research and critical thinking skills in education
• The article emphasizes the significance of professional librarians and educators in developing critical skills among students
• Students often rely on Google results without independently evaluating the credibility of the sources.
• Students face difficulty in evaluating the quality of widely-available information online, and the importance of expertise in scholarship is questioned as easily accessible information becomes more important
• It's essential that students develop literacy skills to filter credible information from unreliable sources.

A Path Through Information

• Students need instruction and guidance on evaluating information sources
• Understanding the difference between reliable and unreliable online sources is critical
• It's essential to use scholarly approaches in education, rather than relying solely on easily accessible information
• Students must ask questions like the source of the information, the qualifications of the author, the type and date of the article (journalism, opinion piece, etc.), and if the source is supported by an organization.
• Educating students on evaluating information sources critically, is important in today’s digital age, not an easy or trivial task