Internet Searching Worksheets

With this set of worksheets students will search the Internet for answers to a variety of questions. Think of these as mini- web quests.

Internet Search Related Teacher Resources

How To Become A Better Internet Searcher

The internet is at the core of modern life. There is no doubt that the internet is a highly convenient and useful repository for information. However, the proliferation of dubious sites on the internet makes it a veritable minefield. Hence, everyone must tread cautiously in the murky world of the internet. This is important, especially for your students who, because of their young age, are more susceptible to disinformation that abounds on the internet. Sadly, most students do not know how to search effectively on the internet and separate fact from fiction. A University of Chicago Press publication shows that most undergraduate students don't have the requisite skills for finding authentic information in the online world. Around 80 percent of college students cannot distinguish fact from fiction on the internet. It's the same story with adults. Students tend to click on the first link in Google search results naively. Since it is at the top of Google rankings, it must be correct – this is how most people think. Educators need to teach students better ways of scouring the internet for reliable, authentic, and accurate information. Teachers can help their students become better internet searchers by explaining the following tips and tricks.

Find Trustworthy Institutes Online

You should seek online information from websites belonging to colleges, universities, institutes, and US government agencies wherever it's possible.
For example, if you are searching for health information, you should consult websites of established medical institutes and research journals. You can also take information from websites belonging to experienced medical doctors qualified to dispense medical information. In short, you should be highly selective about the sites where you take your information. Proficiency and authenticity should be the main criteria for selecting websites that you can trust.

Beware of Commercial Sites

The first and foremost aim of commercial websites is to sell. Hence, conflict of interest can hinder these sites from providing objective and accurate information.
This is not to say that all commercial websites are scams. It's just that you will need experience and a critical, discerning mindset to find out which ones provide authentic information and which ones are unreliable. One way to ascertain the authenticity of the information presented on commercial sites is to cross-check this information with facts available on reliable websites.

Don't Rely on Social Media Following

Social proof is a fallacy. Some innumerable charlatans have a large following on social media. You cannot determine the trustworthiness of an influencer by checking out the size of their following on social media.

Consult Multiple Sources

If you get your information from just one source, you run the risk of receiving biased information. For example, consulting just one news site may not be smart since its reporting and opinions will likely be influenced to some extent by its political orientation.
Hence, you should adopt an eclectic approach. Consult different news sources, in particular those with different political views. And remember, the truth is probably in between these two conflicting views.

Don't Rely on Date Alone

Some sites put a recent date above the fold to impart a fresh feel to their content, even though the content may be much older. One way to identify such sites is to check their links and references – If they all are several years old, you can be sure that the webpage has not been recently updated.

Beware of Authorship

Your first impulse may be to click on "About Us" to know who is behind the website. But more often than not, things are seldom what they seem on the internet.
Generating fresh, relevant content is arduous and time-consuming. Most website owners often don't have the time to research and dedication that content creation demands. Hence, they outsource content creation to third parties who are often not subject experts. If the author profile on the "About Us" page is missing a picture of the author, then you should be skeptical. The same applies if they don't show their social media account. But another caveat is that pictures and social media accounts cannot be regarded as proof of authorship– fake pictures and social media accounts plague the internet.

Scrutinize Site Design and Writing Style

If the site design is uninspiring, then you should be skeptical. Also, poor writing should be another cause of concern.
Of course, vibrant site design and professional writing style don't necessarily prove that the site is a reliable repository of information.

Look for Links

If the website you scrutinize is trustworthy and well-known, it will have several external links (on other trustworthy sites) that point towards it.
Here is how you can check for such links.
Type the following in Google search.
link: http://(website).com
Note: replace "(website)" with the website's domain name that you are assessing.
Now press enter. If you find lots of links from other trustworthy sites pointing back towards the site you are investigating, you can have some degree of confidence in its information.

Google Scholar Can Help You

Perhaps the safest way of doing reliable internet research is to scour trustworthy publications and journals online.
You can turn to Google Scholar to find research papers – even paid ones – for free.
But do keep in mind that not all research papers are 100% true. Be warned that there are many issues for which research papers show conflicting results.

Are There Reliable Links to Support Claims?
Whether it is a claim or a statistic, it should have a link to a reliable online resource to back it up.
If any claim or statistic lacks such a link, be skeptical. We hope you will be aware of how to become a better internet searcher by now. The tactics outlined above will empower students to become better internet searchers. Hence educators should teach these prudent steps to their students to easily differentiate between truth and fiction.