New Literacies in the Science Classroom

Literacy used to apply to "normal" reading and writing -- texts, articles, books. As the internet permeates every aspect of our lives, becoming technologically literate is just as important as being able to read a book or a newspaper article. For many young people, the internet is their "extended mind" -- they are so adept at navigating the internet that the information on the web is almost an extension of their knowledge. The internet is both a powerful tool for research and an abundance of misinformation. Students need to discern between reputable sources and useless junk if their extended mind is to be of any use.

Vacca, Vacca and Mraz (2011) present a four step procedure for using online resources. The first step is to look for bias on the site. This can be as obvious as being stated the site's title (e.g. the website of a political party) or so subtle that a reader has to assess the interests of the organization that runs the site. Next, the reliability of the site should be assessed. Gathering information about the organization that runs the site and the author of the specific page are good places to start. Even if the site and author check out, the information may not be accurate, so verifying the information with another reputable source is important. Finally, the students should synthesize the information so it is meaningful for the assignment.

As the spread of many viral videos and images illustrate, many adults are not adept at evaluating online sources. Expecting students to do this on their own is expecting too much. Evaluating sources is a skill that needs to be practiced often; modelling it for the class is especially important in order to show students what they should be looking for when evaluating resources.

The internet is an incredible resource for students, but they need to be taught how to use it properly. Sorting through the junk to find reliable information can be difficult. By modelling good techniques for evaluating online resources, teachers can help their students learn good research techniques for class and a valuable life skill as the internet becomes evermore ubiquitous.