In today’s high-tech world, students increasingly turn to the Internet for research. Google prevails as the leading tool to find answers and in conducting research, according to an article called
Why ‘Googling It’ Is Not Enough.
Although easy access to information is valuable, a recent report from the
Pew Research Center highlights concerns among educators that students’ digital literacy has not kept pace with their use of technology. Students once perused books, consulted firsthand sources and had to synthesize information found in multiple formats to complete research projects. With answers now a click away, some educators argue that doing research “has shifted from a relatively slow process of intellectual curiosity and discovery to a fast-paced, short-term exercise aimed at locating just enough information to complete an assignment.”
Teachers also acknowledge the benefits of search tools like Google with its abundance of information, but some “express concern that easily-distracted students with short attention spans are not developing the skills required to do deep, original research.” In response to this concern, the article outlines three ways to encourage students to go beyond Google:
- Promote digital and traditional literacy by teaching students to vet sources.
- Encourage students to find face-to-face sources.
- Guide them to search deeper—beyond the “top results” in their initial query.
For tips on how to help students increase their digital fluency, read our previous blog post,
“Gifted Kids May Be Tech Savvy, But Are They Fluent?” by Susan Corwith, PhD. and Carl Heine, Ph.D.
