Online Learning

Part 2

More Tips

Finally, look beyond the article for more clues.

·        Read the website’s home page and the About Us page. Look for a mission statement to learn more about the site, its purpose and the organization sponsoring it.

·        If there is an author listed, look for a biography that discusses the author’s education, profession and other relevant background. If there is no bio on the site, search for one elsewhere on the Web.  

·        Check the date. Facts can change over time, so see if the site shows when it was last updated.

·        Presentation counts; look at everything from design to spelling. A clean, well-organized site shows a certain degree of professionalism.

·        Avoid sites that are pornographic, vulgar, inappropriate, below par, suggestive, and falsifying.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Online Learning

Part 1

Read Between the Lines

Make a judgment about the site’s reliability based on your own analysis of the site and the information it contains. Here are some ways to do this:

·        Look for facts you know or can check with a trusted source. If the site gets those facts right, it’s more likely that the other facts on the site are also accurate.

·        Study the language used. Is it angry, satiric or overly impassioned? This may indicate that the site is biased.

·        Consider whether the arguments are logical and backed up by evidence, and whether the site presents only one point of view.

·        Check the links to the sources that the author acknowledges. Scholarly writing, whether in print or online, should include a bibliography.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

It’s Online, but Is It On Target?

Part 1

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-skills/109995.html

Using the Web Wisely

Thanks to the Web, information is easy to find. However, it’s also easy to post something online. Anyone can do it.

You’ve probably used the Internet to do research for a paper, to help you decide which product to buy, or to form on opinion about current. Looking up information online is fast and convenient. But when you do online research, it’s important to find sites you can trust.

Many websites claim to have the facts, but are full of errors. Others present information in a biased way- they only give one side of an argument. How can you tell a reliable source from an unreliable one? Also, it is critical that you post online only that which is descent and appropriate, never anything pornographic, vulgar, indecent, out of taste, untruthful, or obscene. Post those things that will make a good name for you and your organization, that will promote goodwill and be benefit to the world.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!

Note—Taking Strategies

Part 2

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/college-success/9555.html

During Class

One approach that has been proven effective is called the Cornell Note-Taking System. Here are some of its methods.

Start by using the main section of your page to take down your notes during class. Be sure to leave space on the left side of the page and the bottom. Things keep in mind:

1.     Get the speaker’s main points. Don’t write down every word you hear.

2.     Leave blanks in your notes to add explanation later.

3.     Organize as you write. Pay attention to cues such as repetition and emphasis.

4.     Indicate main and supporting points as you go.

5.     Jot down key vocabulary, important facts and formulas.

6.     Ask questions. If you’re confused, it’s better to ask while the material is fresh in your mind.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT!!!