MAPping Information

Typically when I am conducting any kind of research online, I use Google as my search engine and I usually pick from the first few hits on the first page.  I compare the information from websites that Google brings up to determine the most accurate answer to my search.  I have also used EBSCO Host in the past when I needed information from a scholarly or peer-reviewed journal.  Before this activity, I was aware that URLs ending in .gov or .edu are much more accurate and reliable than most other websites. However after completing this assignment I have discovered other methods to find internet resources with more reliable information to distribute in my future classroom.

My future searches will be somewhat similar to my previous searches however, now that I have completed this assignment I feel much more confident to find higher quality information from various locations on the internet. To find more reliable sites for information, I will first look at the URL to determine the website’s domain, (.com, .gov, .mil, .edu etc.). The domain specifies the original intent of the website, be it commercial, educational etc.  After verifying the domain is a reliable source, I will then check the website’s author using the Easywhois website. What I found to be most helpful is the LINK command. The link command tells about the author and how he or she has connected their website to other websites and to search engines across the internet. 

In conclusion, this assignment has enabled me to have a better understanding of basic web searches and how to find the best information that is reliable and pertinent to the topic of research. As an educator, this information will allow me to teach students how to determine any website’s accuracy and validity for their classroom research. Equipping students with the tools they need ensures that they can find accurate information and allows them to work independently in future classes and research projects.