The
definition was that of digital information fluency developed by the 21st
Century Information Fluency project (Heine & O'Conner, n.d.): Digital
Information Fluency (DIF) is the ability to find, evaluate and use digital
information effectively, efficiently and ethically. DIF involves Internet
search skills that start with understanding how digital information is
different from print information, knowing how to use specialized tools for
finding digital information and strengthening the dispositions needed in the
digital information environment.
Apparently,
Network is essential for students’ lives in the recent years. Also, it is an
important source for student getting knowledge. There is lots of information on
the Internet, but not all the information is valuable for using, because any person
can publish information on the website. Therefore, it is essential to master
how to find information on the Internet for each student. When students get
information via the Internet, they have to identify which information is useful
and trustworthy, which information should be critically accepted, and which
information should be completely abandoned.
As
Alan November (1998) said,”As they use the Web, they need to evaluate
their findings using several techniques, which I will place into three main
categories: Purpose, Author, and Meta-Web Information.” More exactly, students
should always try to make certain the purpose of website, and analyze whether
it is designed to sell products, advocate ideas and entertain. Secondly, they
should analyze the site’s author, and even can search their background, such as
level of education, position and job. These can help to determine the
credibility of the page content. Thirdly, they can get some clues of the site
via analyzing the URL or address from Meta-Web information.
November pointed out that for too many students, “If it is on
the Internet, it is true.” Therefore, it is an urgent need to teach students how
to search information on the Internet.
Reference
Heine,
C., & O'Conner, D. (n.d.). 21st century digital information fluency
model. Retrieved April 13, 2009, from
http://21cif.com/resources/difcore/
November,
A. (1998) Teaching Zack to Think, Available: http://www.mmiweb.org.uk/ltnt/site/resources/teaching-zack.pdf [Accessed
16.02.13]
