Abstract

It is not unusual for students to search the web for sources to use for their classes. It is also not unusual for some of those sources to be unacceptable for a variety of reasons. To help students recognize which sites are appropriate to use for their classwork and which are not, we use a library instruction lesson that helps students devise their own "gold standard" criteria to apply to sites. First, in groups, students are given "bad" websites on a specific topic (one that students have tried to use in the past) and asked to determine what makes them unacceptable for the class. Then, using these unsuitable characteristics, students individually conceive a set of "gold standard" criteria that would identify a site as good to use for subject information. Finally, back in groups, students use their "gold standard" criteria to identify sites on the same topic that would be good choices for them to use. Students then present these to the class, with explanations on what criteria they used and how they found their sites. The information and criteria generated during the lesson are collected and posted to the class LMS for the students' future use.

Context

The lesson is done during a single class period when an assignment that would require students to research material on their own is assigned. It can also be used as a general lesson on information literacy at the start of the term, so students will have a better chance of finding appropriate information if they search for sources on their own. The lessons have been used in intro-level gen-ed science courses that do not have prerequisites.

Why It Works

We have noted a decrease in the use of unacceptable sources used by students in writing assignments and some students have said that they plan to apply the "gold standard" criteria to other classes they are taking.