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Is a Relevant Piece of Information a Valid One? Teaching Critical Evaluation of Online Information

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Teaching and Learning in Information Retrieval

Part of the book series: The Information Retrieval Series ((INRE,volume 31))

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Abstract

In this chapter we first point out the importance for any user to keep in mind the level of validity of a piece of information; specifically in the context of the Web in which the information is heterogeneous in terms of the editorial process used. We detail the criteria coming from users’ behavior and those that should be taught in order to provide users with an opportunity to become information literate. We suggest a taxonomy of criteria and concepts that can be taught. We present three different ways for a trainer to make trainees learn about information validity: first making students aware of the validity issue, then using a criteria grid and finally teaching based on practice. We finish the chapter with assessments and feedback on these practices.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Like Macedo-Rouet and Rouet (2008) we consider that credibility is the subjective perception of the information receiver on its reliability.

  2. 2.

    We considered that the discourse is a practical application of a language. Any discourse is subject to standards and organizational rules that exist in a given social group. In addition, any discourse testifies a transmitter’s aim; the transmitter aims at producing an effect on the receiver (e.g. to cause a stir, persuade the reader or inform him) Mainguenau (2007).

  3. 3.

    Some of these types of discourses can be declined into more specific types. For example, when they talk to general public, journalists use discourses that are codified according to quite particular types (reporting, editorial, news, etc.).

  4. 4.

    In English, several projects are listed on Wikipedia:School and university projects http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:School_and_university_projects.

    In French, a project description can be found on the following web page: Wikipedia:projets pédagogiques http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Projets_p%C3%A9dagogiques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres, Ecole Interne de l’Université de Toulouse le Mirail, Université de Toulouse le Miral, le Miral, Toulouse, France

    Josiane Mothe

  2. Institut de Recherche en Informatique de Toulouse, CNRS-UMR5505, Cedex 9, France

    Josiane Mothe

  3. Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres, Ecole Interne de l’Université de Toulouse le Mirail, Université de Toulouse, CNRS-UMR5505, Cedex 9, France

    Gilles Sahut

Authors
  1. Josiane Mothe
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  2. Gilles Sahut
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Correspondence to Josiane Mothe .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington, Seattle, 98195-2840, Washington, USA

    Efthimis Efthimiadis

  2. , Departamento de Ciencias de la, Universidad de Granada, C/ Periodista Daniel Saucedo Aranda, s/n., Granada, 18071, Spain

    Juan M. Fernández-Luna

  3. , Departamento de Ciencias de la, Universidad de Granada, C/ Periodista Daniel Saucedo Aranda, s/n., Granada, 18071, Spain

    Juan F. Huete

  4. , Department of Information Science, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom

    Andrew MacFarlane

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Mothe, J., Sahut, G. (2011). Is a Relevant Piece of Information a Valid One? Teaching Critical Evaluation of Online Information. In: Efthimiadis, E., Fernández-Luna, J., Huete, J., MacFarlane, A. (eds) Teaching and Learning in Information Retrieval. The Information Retrieval Series, vol 31. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22511-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-22511-6_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-22510-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-22511-6

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