In the Google Age, Information Literacy is Crucial by Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown writes, "When I studied engineering in the early 1990s, I spent hours sorting through databases of engineering abstracts to carefully narrow down results using Boolean searches. After that, I'd have to wait days for the hard copy of the technical papers I ordered to be delivered from the central library."

Photo: eLearn Magazine

Today's world of powerful Web-based search engines presents students with a dramatically different information landscape from the one I experienced. Students go about their research with the assumption that they will able to find answers to their questions almost instantly. Yet, the instant access to information through search engines including Google is a double-edged sword. While students might be able to find a wide range of information such as what time a store opens or SparkNotes for Plato's The Republic, many students aren't able to discern good information from bad information or the validity of sources.

Photo: Bing Pan, Ph.D.

This was recently demonstrated by College of Charleston Professor Bing Pan, who conducted a study that showed that today's students generally rely on Web pages at the top of Google search results as the main test for validity.

For serious academic inquiry, it's important that the information retrieved is the most accurate, highest quality, and as relatively up-to-date as possible. In order for students to develop good habits before they enter the workforce, it's vital to educate students early in their academic careers on how to determine what information is reliable and what is misleading when using search engines. Furthermore, we must take the additional step and educate students about alternative Web-based resources that are freely available to them on campus.
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About the Author
Andrew Brown has significant experience working with librarians on integrating research tools into universities. He has held several sales and business development roles in the Web-based content reference field, including EMEA Academic Channel Director at Knovel and Business Development Director at IHS.

Related link
In Google We Trust: Users' Decisions on Rank, Position, and Relevance 
By Pan, B., Hembrooke, H., Joachims, T., Lorigo, L., Gay, G., and Granka, L.
The Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication

Source: eLearn Magazine