Activity/Reading #2

My evaluation of Criteria:

When finding information via the internet, I first examine the website where the information is located. If the website is built improperly or makeshift in appearance, I automatically decrease the credibility of the information. The URL can also help determine the credibility of information. For example, .gov websites tend to provide more credibility than a .com website. Next, I read the content. If there are grammar or spelling mistakes, I usually stop reading and move onto another source. Honestly, I do not thoroughly check the information. I am usually in a hurry when researching, and I take information that “looks” credible.

Readings:

Mark Bauerlein’s article, “Authority Figures,” discusses the ranking and popularity process of information that is displayed from search engines. Bauerlein mentions Michael Petrilli’s experiment that dealt with search engines and what criteria is used when displaying search results from a search engine i.e Google. Petrilli’s experiment found that Wikipedia was almost always the number one search result for all of his searches. Intelligent Positioning discovered that Wikipedia is the top position on 56 percent of all Google searches (wow!). Bauerlein implies how he feels about Wikipedia when he states, “…Wikipedia has only broadened its leviathan reach.” Leviathan refers to a demonic creature or monster (dictionary.com). Bauerlein also addresses the irony between the founder of Wikipedia to the principals behind Wikipedia. Bauerlein claims that Wikipedia is the opposite of what the founder stands for. The subjects of print encyclopedias (Britannica) were questioned. Britannica costs almost 14 grand while using a Wikipedia is free. Some people may feel more secure having a bound encyclopedia but those people also must have the money to afford it.

The article, “Information Navigation 101,” by Andrea Foster addresses the importance of “information literacy.” While search engines provide endless amounts of information, students are having trouble being able to decipher which information is credible and which is not. Librarians have taken it upon themselves to try and aid students in this process by teaching them research skills (our library 103 class applies). These research skills are tools to help find reliable sources for information. Foster notes that, in the past, some colleges had these types of programs, but now almost every college has information literacy classes.  Along with taking information literacy classes, schools are having students take standardized tests to show they are information literate.  The article also mentions how some professors are against any information that is not from a printed source.