Searching for Truth on the Web
Think. Don't Trust Anything!
What information do we trust?
Do we have a deep understanding?
Target
    Learning Targets:
  • I can use a variety of sources on the Web to locate, evaluate, and broaden my understanding of a selected topic.
  • I can make a factual statement based on my broadened understanding of a topic.

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
He who would search for pearls must dive below.
—All for Love. Prologue.
John Dryden
http://bartelby.org/18/1/

Often in school, or through various media, we learn shorthand statements that capture some aspects of the truth, but fall short in other ways. In most cases, if we understood why these statements fell short, we would have a much deeper understanding of the knowledge domain in question and would likely find the topic itself more interesting. For example, we learn that "in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue" and that he discovered America. But what did he really discover and in what sense did he discover it?


Activities:

1) Exploration - In groups of 2 or 3, choose one of the following commonplace statements. Use the web to see what you can learn about why it may not be 100% accurate. If you already know a lot about the topic, keep searching until you come up with something you didn't already know. Can you trust what you've found on the web?
  • Columbus discovered America in 1492.
  • English is the official language of the United States of America.
  • You should choose your food from the four food groups.
  • There are four oceans.
  • There are five senses: taste, smell, touch, sight, and hearing.
  • There are seven continents.
  • People in France speak French.
  • There are nine planets in our solar system.
  • Milk is the best treatment for an ulcer.
  • Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity.
  • Pizza is an Italian invention.
  • There is zero gravity in space.
  • Scientists use the "Scientific Method."
When you are finished, we will come back together as a group to discuss what you have found. Be prepared to have one person from your group present your findings from the day.

2) Presentation - In the same groups of 2 or 3, create and present a brief summary of your findings. You should create the presentation using one of the Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, or Excel). Be sure to include the following:
  • Title page/slide - clearly display topic, names of participants, date
  • Multiple perspectives on the topic with accurate explanation
  • Cite sources with each explanation
  • Each student takes a perspective on the topic, staging a "debate" with group members.
  • Summary statement, answering:
    • What was not totally true about the original statement?
    • What can be factually stated about the original statement?
       Crossroads             Computer Studies

[The Crossroads School |  Computer Studies Class]

This Searching for Truth on the Web Project was
created by Steve Glickman,
based on lessons by Dr. Bertram (Chip) Bruce of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
and by David M. Marcovitz, Ph.D. of the Loyola College of Maryland.
Last updated: February 26, 2009