Information Literacy Lesson Plan

Stage 1 - Desired Outcome

Established Goals: G What relevant goals (e.g. content standards, course or program objective, learning outcomes) will this design address? -To understand the fourth step of informational literacy according to the Educational Schemata found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_literacy -To determine whether a website is trustworthy or not -Reading Comprehension 2.3 Discern main ideas and concepts presented in texts, identifying and assessing evidence. Understandings: Students will understand that U Essential Questions: What provocative questions will foster inquiry, understanding, and transfer of learning? Q

-Some website are reliable or trustworthy and some are not. -There are 8 ways to determine the trustworthiness of a website (visit). This sheet will be handed out to the kids (see attached). -The main idea of a website may or may not be supported with good evidence.

-Do you think everything on the internet is trustworthy? Why or why not? -Do people intentionally tell lies, but act as if they are true? -Why is it important to support a main idea with solid evidence?

Students will know . . . K Students will be able to * What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this unit? -They will know how to assess a website for its reliability or trustworthiness. -They will know whether a main idea is supported by solid evidence. The criteria for solid evidence will be the 8 ways of evaluating reliable websites (visit)

Stage 2 - Assessment Evidence

Performance Tasks: T * Through what authentic performance tasks will students demonstrate the desired understandings? -Students will visit 3 websites and determine the trustworthiness of them. -Students will get in groups of two around a computer and explain why the website was trustworthy or not and if the main idea is supported by good evidence. * By what criteria will performances of understanding be judged? Other Evidence: OE * Through what other evidence (e.g. quizzes, tests, academic prompts, observations, homework, journals) will students demonstrate achievement of the desired results? -Students will be given a traditional test (see attached) where they will have to memorize and write down the 8 criteria (visit) for determining the trustworthiness of a website. This test will be given at the very end of the lesson, but students will have an opportunity to revise their answers

* How will students reflect upon on or self-assess their learning?

-I will informally assess the students by traveling around the room and listening to whether students use any of the 8 criteria mentioned during pre-activity lecture.

-Students will assess their own learning by filling out a simple self-evaluation worksheet (see attached).

Stage 3 - Learning Plan

Learning Activities: L What learning experiences and instruction will enable students to achieve the desired results? How will the design W = Help the students know Where the unit is going and What is expected? Help the teacher know Where the students are coming from (prior knowledge, interests)? -The lesson will begin with an informal conversation about how they can tell if someone is telling the truth and why it is important to know the difference. The topic of determining the trustworthiness of someone will then be transferred evaluating the trustworthiness of a website. I will tell the kids they will learn some valuable tips to assess whether a website is credible. -A website will be displayed and students will be asked how they would know if the website is trustworthy. A KWL chart will be made on a whiteboard and kept up throughout the entire lesson. H = Hook all students, and Hold their interest? -I will show the kids a website that is not credible, but has news of something incredible (i.e. national enquirer type stuff) and then we will begin a conversation about its legitimacy and how they know. E = Equip students, help them Experience the key ideas and Explore the issue? -The kids will each have an opportunity to evaluate a website with the 8 ways criteria sheet (see attached) and then converse with a partner about whether they think it is trustworthy or not. R = Provide opportunities to Rethink and Revise their understandings and work? -Through conversations with students and after self-evaluation sheet (see attached), students will be able to make changes to their test, but only half credit will be given. E = Allow students to Evaluate their work and its implications? -Students will complete a self-evaluation sheet and be able to revise their test. T = be Tailored (personalized) to the different needs, interests, and abilities of learners? -Through conversation, traditional testing, verbal lecture from teacher, KWL chart, and test revisions; all learning styles will be engaged.
O = Be Organized to maximize initial and sustained engagement as well as effective learning? -KWL chart will be on board entire time, all worksheets will be printed out and stapled in a single packet, computers and iPads will be internet ready, not credible website (see H) will be predetermined.

Name:____________________________ Date:___________________ Name the 8 ways to determine the trustworthiness of a website and explain each:

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Reliable Websites How to Tell if a Website is Reliable

How to Tell if a Website is Reliable

Photo illustration by Matt Cardy/Getty Images The Internet can be a wonderful reporting tool for journalists. Data that once was only found in paper documents can now often be accessed with the click of a mouse, and research that once took hours or days can be done in minutes. But for every reputable website there are probably 100 that are full of information that's inaccurate, unreliable or worse. Here are eight ways to tell if a website is reliable. 1. Look for Sites from Established Institutions The web is full of websites that were started five minutes ago. What you want are sites associated with trusted institutions that have been around for awhile and have a proven track record of reliability and integrity.

2. Look for Sites With Expertise

You wouldn't go to an auto mechanic if you broke your leg, and you wouldn't go to the hospital to have your car repaired. I'm making an obvious point: Look for websites that specialize in the kind of information you're seeking. So if you're writing a story on a flu outbreak, check out medical websites, and so on.

3. Steer Clear of Commercial Sites

Sites run by companies and business - their websites usually end in .com - are more often than not trying to sell you something. And if they're trying to sell you something, chances are whatever information they're presenting will be tilted in favor of their product.

journalism.about.com/od/reporting/a/EightWaysToTellIfAWebsiteIsReliable.htm

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Reliable Websites How to Tell if a Website is Reliable

4. Beware Bias
Reporters write a lot about politics, and there are plenty of political websites out there. But many of them are run by groups that have a bias in favor of one political party or philosophy. A conservative website isn't likely to report objectively on a liberal politician, and vice versa. Steer clear of sites with a political ax to grind and instead look for ones that are non-partisan.

5. Check the Date

As a reporter you need for the most up-to-date information available, so if a website seems old, it's probably best to steer clear. One way to check - look for a "last updated" date on the page or site.

6. Look at the Site's Look

If a site looks poorly designed and amateurish, chances are it was created by amateurs. Steer clear. But be careful - just because a website is professionally designed doesn't mean it's reliable.

7. Avoid Anonymous Authors

Articles or studies whose authors are named are often - though not always more reliable than works produced anonymously. It makes sense: If someone is willing to put their name on something they've written, chance are they stand by the information it contains. And if you have the name of the author, you can always Google him or her to check their credentials.

8. Check the Links

Reputable websites often link to each other. See which sites the website you're on links to. Then go to Google and enter this in the search field: link: http://www.yourwebsite.com

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Reliable Websites How to Tell if a Website is Reliable

This will show you which sites link to the one you're on. If lots of sites are linking to your site, and of those sites seem reputable, then that's a good sign. Follow me on Facebook [1] & Twitter [2]

1. http://www.facebook.com/group.php? sid=940b61d5b5560b96d8f6b22b31046215&gid=55792468718&ref=search 2. http://twitter.com/aboutjournalism

journalism.about.com/od/reporting/a/EightWaysToTellIfAWebsiteIsReliable.htm

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Name _______________________________________ Date ____________________________

Student Self-Assessment
Write about what you did and what you learned.

Check the sentences that describe your work. ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ I made a plan before I began working. I knew what to do. I did not know what to do. I did these problems a different way. I could help someone do this. The work was easy. The work was hard.
Scott Foresman Addison Wesley K