Tips for students on vetting Internet sources for papers

If I see one more Wikipedia reference in my students' papers, I may lose it. It's better than the Cosmopolitan Magazine reference I had a few years ago, though. No lie. AND - it wasn't even a paper on body dysmorphic disorder. Now, while Wikipedia claims to be very careful in their open editing and fact-checking process, they advise caution for use in academic settings, so I am still not a 100% convert. I am very appreciative of this website on vetting Internet sources and wanted to send it along. For example, they have a great section on evaluating quality in information...


"Quality in information comprises several characteristics, including accuracy, scope of coverage, objectivity, timeliness, authority, and verifiability. Take time to recognize it. It could keep you well-informed, prevent you from relying on illicitly edited material, save you money, or preserve your health. It could even save a life."

More from this page - a checklist for students to use in vetting resources:

Accuracy: factually irrefutable and complete information. Tip: Is there a second reliable source that gives the same information? Is it a peer-reviewed source. Does the publisher use editors and fact checkers?

Scope of Coverage: the extent to which the source explores a topic. Scope of coverage may include a period of time, a geographic region, various aspects of a topic, etc. Tip: Does the source offer information about its scope?

Objectivity: minimum bias with respect to interpretation or analysis of facts. Tip: Is the source trying to persuade you? Who sponsors or publishes the information? What can you discover about their intentions?

Timeliness: information that is current at the time of publication. Tip: Does the source provide a date for this specific Web page or entry, as opposed to a general site revision date?

Authority: a reliable source of information. Tip: Can you determine the name of the author and publisher? Is the author a recognized expert on the topic? What is the publisher's reputation?

Verifiability: confirmation of the facts or information with a second reliable source. Tip: Does the material cite to its sources of information?

(Click here for the rest of the page)

On the lighter side - one way to get students to stop looking at laptops during class

From The Chronicle - click here - February 23, 2010, 08:00 AM ET


Here's One Way to Curtail Web Surfing in the Classroom

Kieran Mullen, a condensed-matter theorist in the University of Oklahoma's department of physics and astronomy, freezes a laptop computer in liquid nitrogen, then smashes it on the floor. A student caught the classroom theatrics on video.

From the Chronicle's 'wired campus': A parody video you should see

February 9, 2010, 03:00 PM ET


Class Produces Parody of 'The Office' to Highlight Challenges of Teaching With Technology

By Jeff Young

Students at the University of Denver created a parody video essay -- in the style of the popular TV show "The Office" -- to show their frustrations with technology in the classroom and urge professors and students to work together to make classes more lively.

Many of the scenes in the six-minute video will probably seem familiar to anyone who has sat in on a college class in recent years: a professor funbles with his PowerPoint presentation, a student goofs around on Facebook during the lecture, and another student complains about having to buy a laptop...