Journal 8

Ferrel, K. (2011, August). Find the truth about the pacific tree octopus. Learning and Leading, 39(1), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Learning_Connections_Find_the_truth_about_the_Pacific_tree_octopus.aspx

In a world where "factual" information is just a google search away, Ferrel decides to challenge this and discuss his ideas and findings in his article "Find the truth about the pacific tree octopus." He gave his fourth grade class two topics to research using google and had them share their findings with the class. He lists some of the erroneous claims made by the websites retrieved by google such as the "facts" that tree octopuses have eye sight comparable to humans, or that Bill gates had a hand in financing Magellan's expedition. After the class shared more of their findings, many of the students started to realize that some of the information that they had found did not seem to make much sense. Ferrel points out how he discussed with the students the importance of paying attention to certain things on a website such as if the website is .gov, .edu, etc by using the five w's, who,what, when, where, and why. He also brings up the point that many students didn't understand the idea that a real website with pictures and other things that made it seem reliable, could in actuality be completely unreliable. This is a very important lesson and Ferrel was able to execute it in a way that modern children can understand and appreciate.

1) As an educator would I use a similar method to teach the importance of knowing a reliable, primary source?

I can definitely see myself taking Ferrel's idea and adapting it to a lesson in my future classroom. Just as Ferrel pointed out, many kids trust that what they find on the internet is truth, especially if it is one of the first results provided by google. As technology becomes more common place, it will also likely result in more false or non reliable information being put out on the internet. This is just one of many reasons that not only I, but every teacher should reference Ferrel's findings and apply it to a lesson in their classroom.

2)Are the five W's a good way to determine a websites reliability?

While nothing is a perfect system, I feel that using the 5 w's provide students with a good outline of things to look for. Perhaps pairing the use of the 5 w's with a lesson where students have to list what the 5 w's of multiple sites they look at will help them to not only engrain the idea of its use into their mind but will also help them differentiate between a reliable websites 5 w's and one with false information.