Title: Search Strategies
Course: 21 Things for Students > Section: Search Strategies

Introduction to Search Strategies

Welcome special agent! Your SSI has requested that you go through special training to prepare you for cyberspace exploration! It is critical that you know about the different worlds called websites, blogs and wikis and can dig deeper into these worlds so you can advise your fellow agents and citizens of dangerous and bogus places, as well as safe and credible sources. Your fellow citizens are depending on you to learn how to evaluate these worlds. During your training you will participate in simulations that will prepare you for your actual visit into space.

Mission 1

You are now going to attend Space Training Camp! Your first assignment is to explore four quests and learn how to distringuish between a blog, website and wiki.

Space Training Camp Mission

Space Training Camp is going to be fun. The World Wide Web can be a daunting place to visit and you need the tools to navigate it safely and efficiently.

During the Space Training Camp mission, you will be exploring cyber space and will learn how to distinguish a blog, from a website and wiki. You will also learn about research databases.

Quest 1: Space Training Camp

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Introduction

You have been selected by your SSI Chief to begin Space Training Camp. Your secret community (school) needs special agents to travel into space in search of valid and credible worlds (website, blogs, wikis and databases). Before you can begin the actual space exploration, you are required to complete top secret training. By the end of this training exercise, you will be able to tell the difference between a website, blog, wiki and database. You will be required to write about the similarities and differences between these worlds. Your document need to be saved on your secret file space and will be shared with your SSI Chief.

Steps

Before you can begin your journey into space you must be briefed on the different types of worlds you will encounter. Watch the top secret training videos below and read the explanations. Be sure to take notes so you can complete the final assignment and move onto the next  training mission.

Watch the World of Blog

Watch the World of Wiki

Read the explanation World of Website

Read the explanation of World of Internet

Read the explanation World of Databases

The next clip is a must see! This S.S.I. Chief Nichols does an amazing job explaining the databases and even discusses the differences between using a search engine like Google and a credible database.

Database versus Google

Completing this Quest

Now that you have completed all training, you must prove you are ready to go onto the next level of training. You will do this by writing about what you know about websites, blogs, wikis and databases. Be sure to include all similarities and/ or differences.

In order to complete this quest, you must organize what you have learned about the similarities and differences between these worlds (blogs, wikis, databases and websites). This information can be typed in a word processing document. Your work will need to be saved to your secret file space.

To earn Expert Space Camp Training Status:

Watch the tutorial below on how to use Kids Infobits . It briefly discusses how a search engine, such as Google is different from a database.

I have completed this Quest and I am ready to move on to Quest 2 .

Don't forget to check this Quest off on your tracking document.

Quest 2: World of Websites

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Introduction

Congratulations on your successful completion of quest #1 in your Basic Space Exploration Training! Now that you know how to navigate around the secret worlds in cyberspace, your SSI has requested that you go through the next phase of training! It is critical that you explore deeper into the secret worlds of websites, blogs, and wikis. Remember these worlds always have to be evaluated. Websites are unlike databases. Databases only contain articles and information that has already been verified as a credible source.  During this training you will go through simulations to learn how to evaluate the secret world of websites. Your evaluations of the secret worlds must be saved on your secret file space. Be sure to meet with your SSI Chief to discuss where the secret file space is located. If you are successful, you will be summoned again by the SSI Chief to advance onto your next training exercise!

Steps

1. Phase 1 of training involves evaluating a website.  Select and read over the following training documents on website evaluation.

     a. Evaluating a website

     b. Watch the top secret video clip on evaluating websites. You should be
          keeping some notes to help you during your simulation and
          writing assignment.
          ***Please note the screen will stay black for several seconds***
         The author purposely did this.

How to evaluate a website

2. Next you will use the CARRDSS System for evaluating a website- Be careful! This site is full of interesting information and video clips. Stay focused and scroll down to the section labeled CARRDSS.

You will want to download the CARRDSS PowerPoint  presentation and take notes.

3. Another way to evaluate a website is by using the BASIC form. Read over and take notes on the Basic Presentation.

4. Respond to the following:

     a.   What does CARRDSS stand for?
     b.   What are the similarities and differences between the CARRDSS
          and BASIC forms?
     c.    How do you know if your secret world (website) is reliable or not?
     d.   How do you know if you should move on to another world (website)?
     e.   How would you explain this to the citizens of your community
         (classmates) so they know if the website is credible?

5. Remember to save your work to your secret file space.

6. Now test your knowledge on your first simulated mission.  Northwest Pacific Tree Octopus .

7. Use one of the training documents to help you evaluate the site. You need to meet with your SSI Chief to find out what website evaluation format he/she wants you to use.

8. Record your results of this simulated mission using one of the website evaluation formats.

9. After answering the questions on the CARRDSS or BASIC evaluation form, answer the following question at the bottom of your document.

      a. Would you recommend this site?

Completing this Quest:

To successfully complete this mission, you must write a paragraph or more explaining how to evaluate a website. Be sure to address all of the questions listed in step 2 of your training. On a separate evaluation document, you must complete an investigative report on the Northwest Pacific Tree Octopus. Your work will need to be saved to your secret file space.

Resources:

Would you like learn more about evaluating web content? Here are several resources to check out.

Basics of Evaluating Web Content

A list of Bogus Sites

I have completed this Quest and checked it off

Quest 3: World of Wikis

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Introduction

Your SSI has once again requested that you, special agent, to move onto the next phase of Space Training Camp. In this part of your training, you will be learning about the secret of Wikis. You will undergo extensive training and learn how to evaluate Wikis so during an actual quest you will be able to determine if the Wiki is a fraud or factual. You will need to save your notes and work to your secret file space. You may  need to debrief with your SSI to find out where the secret files space is located.

Steps

1. This phase of training involves evaluating Wikis.

2. Go to Wikipedia and review the top secret Wiki Evaluation Criteria document.

3. Time to take notes and save the information to your secret file space. In addition to your notes, answer the following questions.

     a. What are some of the major items you should be looking for when
         considering using a wiki?
     b. Explain the disclaimer found on Wikipedia.
     c. What is the significance of this disclaimer?

4. Save your work to your secret file space.

5. Now it's time to test your knowledge on your simulated mission .

6. Use the Wiki Evaluation Criteria to help you evaluate the site.

7. Record your results of this simulated mission. You will do this by answering at least two questions under each section of the evaluation form.

8. Answer the following question at the bottom of your document.
     a. Would you recommend this wiki?

Completing this Quest:

To successfully complete this mission, you must write a paragraph or more explaining how to evaluate a wiki. Be thorough when explaining how to evaluate a Wiki. Refer to the evaluation document to help guide you. On a separate evaluation document (paper), complete the Wiki evaluation on divergent plate boundaries. Your work will need to be saved to your secret file space.

 I have completed this quest and checked it off

Quest 4: World of Blogs

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Introduction

Congratulations, you have made it to the final phase of Space Training Camp! During this phase you will once again be learning how to evaluate a secret world. However, this time it will be the world of blogs. You will need to be briefed on the evaluation form that you must use and take part in a blog evaluation simulation. You will need to save your notes and report to your secret file space. You may need to debrief with your SSI to find out where the secret file space is located.

Steps

1. This final phase of training involves evaluating blogs. You have already been briefed on blogs as part of your inital training.

2. Review the top secret blog evaluation form .

3. Secret agent, make sure to click on the PDF button above the name line. This will allow you to save your evaluation report to your secret file space without retyping the entire form.

4. Time to complete a simulated mission!

5. Visit the Bad Astonomy blog and complete the blog evaluation form .

6. Remember to click on the PDF button located above the name line and save this critical document to your secret file space.

Completing this Quest

To be successful on this mission and therefore complete Space Camp, you must compete the blog evaluation simulation. All work and any notes must  be saved to your secret file space.

Resources

Check out the bogus blog on Lake Michigan Whale Watching!

I have completed this Quest and have checked it off.

Space Exploration Research Mission

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Introduction

Congratulations on the successful completion of Space Training Camp! You have been summoned by your SSI Chief (Secret School Instructor) to go into the vast wilderness of cyber space to explore and investigate other secret worlds (websites, blogs, and wikis) to find the most reliable and righteous places for the citizens of your world to visit and conduct their own research on the rock cycle. Be warned there are many dangerous worlds that on the surface appear to be trusting and helpful, but underneath are only pranksters and hackers trying to destroy your computer and reputation. You have one final briefing before you can take this journey. You must arm yourself with The Big6. The Big6 will provide you with one final and very critical checklist that is to be used when determining if the credible information you have found is useful. You will be provided with the links to help guide you on this dangerous journey. All of your evaluations and research will be shared with your SSI Chief.

If you are successful in completing this space mission, you will be awarded with the very prestigious honor of the Detective Badge! So, secret agent, are you ready?

During this top secret briefing you will learn how to use the Big6 to determine if the credible information you have discovered is of importance for your mission.

I am ready for Quest 5

Quest 5: Mission Preparation

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Introduction

Congratulations on your successful completion of Space Training Camp! You are now in the final stages of preparation before your actual space research mission. You will now ready yourself for the actual mission. You will need to check over some things on your virtual spaceship before you will be cleared for take- off. First, you need to watch the video briefing on Safe Google Searching. Without this setting locked on, you are more vulnerable for attacks from viruses and are more likely to encounter bogus sites while in Cyberspace.

Next, you will need training on The Big6. These weapons of defense will help you sort through the vast amounts of information that will be aimed at you during your mission. It is critical that you can determine which information actually fits your research. Your work will need to be saved to your secret file space for your SSI Chief to review. The SSI Chief will review your work and determine if you are ready for your research mission in Cyberspace. Good luck secret agent!

Steps

1. Watch the safe Google search briefing video. This will need to be played by your SSI Chief. Your SSI Chief may have another option set up for this part of your mission. Please discuss this with your SSI Chief.

Google Safe Searching Top Secret Training Video

2. What are the steps involved in setting up "safe" Google searches?

3. Save these directions to your secret file space.

4. Now that you have added another shield of protection you need to arm yourself with the The Big6.

5. Review the top secret Big6 Checklist.

6. Respond to the following questions:
     a. What are the 6 steps in the Big6?
     b. How is this checklist helpful when completing research?
     c. How does this tie together what you have learned about evaluating websites, blogs and wikis?

7. Time for your final simulation! Now that you have an additional shield of protection on your virtual shuttle (Google), complete a search on the Rock Cycle.
      a. Choose 2 of the results from your search.
      b. Select the appropriate evaluation form to determine the credibility of the source.
           1. How to evaluate a website using CARRDSS
           2. How to evaluate a website using Basic
           3. How to evaluate a blog
           4. How to evaluate a wiki

       c. Now, if your sources are credible, determine if the information is valuable for your research on the rock cycle. Use the Big6 checklist to help you determine if you should use the material. In other words, could you use the information to explain to another person how rocks travel through the rock cycle?

8. Save your work to your secret file space for your SSI Chief to review.

Completing this Quest

To move onto the space mission, you must be able to:

1. Know how to set up Google for "safe searching"

2. Explain the Big6 and how it is used as a guide when completing research

Resources

1. Do you want to go an extra step for mankind and learn how to use Google Scholar? It is a library of millions of books and other materials digitized for easy reading and searching.

Watch the video below to learn more about Google Scholar.

2. Do you want to learn more about searching safely in Google? Watch the video below on Safe Searching.

3. Do you want to learn more about the Big6? Follow this link to  learn more.

Make sure to check this Quest off on your tracking document when completed.

Quest 6: Mission Research

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Introduction

You have made it through all of the training and the top secret Big6 briefing and simulation! You are now ready to take off into Cyberspace and conduct research for the citizens of your community (school). You will conduct research on the Rock Cycle. Remember special agent, all sites that you use will need to be evaluated and cited. Your SSI Chief should have informed you of the website evaluation format you are required to use (either BASIC or CARRDSS ) If you haven't completed the Be Legal & Be Fair quests, please meet with your SSI Chief to discuss how you will complete this training. All evaluations and research will need to be saved to your secret file space for your SSI Chief to review.

Steps

1. Secret Agent, before you blast off into Cyberspace, make sure you have protected your mission by turning on your safe settings options on Google, or perform advanced searched as shown to you in your last training session.

2. You will be conducting research on the Rock Cycle. You will need to be able to explain the following when you have completed all research:

      a. Explain how a sedimentary rock is formed.
      b. What makes a sedimentary rock unique?
      c. Explain how a metamorphic rock is formed.
      d. What makes a metamorphic rock unique?
      e. Explain how an igneous rock is formed.
      f. What makes an igneous rock unique?
      g. Explain how the rock cycle is different from a plant or animal life cycle.

3. You must include five sources. Two of the sources will be from MeL (Michigan eLibrary) or another database.

   Click on the image to view a Flash-based video about MeL.

4. The other sources can be from a search engine such as Google and should include a blog, wiki and website.

5. Save your evaluations on your secret file space. Below are the links to these evaluation forms.

       a. How to evaluate a website using CARRDSS
       b. How to evaluate a website using Basic
       c. How to evaluate a blog
       d. How to evaluate a wiki

6. Now that you have found your credible sources, you need to check the information with the Big6 Checklist to make sure the information fits your research mission. If the information does not, you will need to go back into Cyberspace and find another source.

7. Save your notes and answers to the Big6 on your secret file space.

8. Finally, you need to give credit where credit is due. Please cite your sources using one of the citation makers. Check out these Citation Makers , including Landmark Citation machine, BibMe, KnightCite, EasyBib, Citation Center, and eTurabian. You need to check with you SSIx Chief and see if you are required to use a specific citation maker.

9. Save your citation information along with your research on your secret file space.

Resources

Here are several other resources that will you help you complete your research mission.

Thinkfinity - Thinkfinity provides free homework help, online learning interactive games and activities and excellent research sites

Fact Monster - Research site for students

Check this Quest off on your tracking document once you and your SSI Chief have confirmed completion all the activities.

Search Strategies Question 1

What characteristic listed below is NOT TRUE for BOTH a wiki and a blog?

- Both are created by people.
Feedback: Try again
- Both are types of websites.
Feedback: Try again
- Both allow users to add comments.
Feedback: Great Job!
- Content on both can be edited.
Feedback: Try again

Search Strategies Question 2

A database is unique because

- It is searchable.
Feedback: Try again
- It contains collections of information on specific topics.
Feedback: Try again
- All of the above
Feedback: Great job!
- It only contains credible information that has already been reviewed.
Feedback: Try again

Search Strategies Question 3

When working on research using the Internet, search results are better when which of the following are used:

- Valid and reliable sources
Feedback: Great job!
- Full sentences
Feedback: Try again
- Acronyms
Feedback: Try again
- Basic searches
Feedback: Try again

Search Strategies: Question 4

You have been assigned a project in a class and have completed the research portion of the project. Assuming you made sure all sources used were valid, how would you determine if the information you found is appropriate for your project?

- By using all your notes, you will fulfill all requirements of the project.
Feedback: Try again
- By verifying that the sources used were credible.
Feedback: Try again
- By using the Big6 checklist and answering the questions.
Feedback: Great job!
- By rereading the information
Feedback: Try again

Search Stratagies Question 5

When conducting research on websites, it is critical to make sure the information you are reading is credible and from a reliable source. Which of the items below is NOT TRUE when verifying a website?

- You should check for an author. If the site has a person’s name listed as the author then you know they are the expert on the topic and it is credible.
Feedback: Great job!
- You need to check for errors, and check the links.
Feedback: Try again
- The site should be checked for bias (one side) and make sure more than one side is presented.
Feedback: Try again
- You should review the content, you understand it, and the site has a date.
Feedback: Try again

Search Strategies Award

Congratulations you have completed the Search Strategies Mission.

To receive your Badge or certificate for completion from your SSI Chief :

 Please take this short survey to share your ideas on how to improve these activities and this 21things4students resource.