EdTec448 - Policy Brief: Accuracy and Validity

Policy Brief:

Accuracy and Validity

Definitions: (from http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

Accuracy – freedom from mistake or error

Validity – logically correct

Issue Overview:

In order to ensure that our students are receiving the best education possible, it is imperative that the information they are receiving, finding, and consuming is both accurate and valid. Page 2 of the current FASD Acceptable Use of Internet policy states:

"Administrators, teachers, and staff have a professional responsibility to work together to help students develop the intellectual skills necessary to discriminate among information sources, to identify information appropriate to their age and development levels, and to evaluate and use the information to meet their educational goals."

The problem that we are facing, is that many faculty and staff members are not aware of this policy or are uncertain of how to comply with it. In addition, the policy does not require students to be accountable for the accuracy and validy of the work that they submit.

Recommendations:

1. Implement an ongoing faculty/staff training program. This program could be implemented by simply discussing effective methods for evaluating electronic resources. This could be done during faculty meetings, departmental meetings, in-service days, or through an on-line class.

Pros:

• Faculty and staff will be aware of effective strategies for evaluating digital resources.

• Quality of information presented to students will increase.

• Students will learn effective strategies for evaluating digital resources from their teachers through both direct instruction and example.

Cons:

• Increasing faculty and staff skill in accuracy and validity and determination will require time and money.

2. Include strategies for determining accuracy and validity of information in the curriculum. This addition to the curriculum could easily be incorporated into a technology class, and English class, a Social Studies class, or an class that is research and writing intensive. Ideally, the issue will be addressed in all classes.

Pros:

• Students will learn to differentiate between "good" and "bad" resources.
• Students will learn the importance of using accurate and valid resources.

• Students will be prepared for the 21st Century work force and higher education.

Cons:

• Adding to the curriculum will require time and cooperation across the curriculum.

3. Increase accessibility to resource evaluation tools. Placing links on the school website for teachers and students to use as reference when evaluating sources

Pros:

• The resources would be easily accessible and readily available.

• Easily accessible resources would increase both student and teacher use of resource evaluation strategies.

Cons:

• Posting the resources online will require time and money.

Resources:

Egan, Jill. Doing Reliable Research. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from Time for Kids. website: http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1006625,00.html

Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply and Questions to Ask. Retrieved July 16, 2008 from UC Berkley Library. website: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools. Retrieved July 17, 2008 from Cornell University Libraries. website: http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html

Harris, Robert. Evaluating internet Resources. Retrieved July 16, 2008 from Virtual Salt. website: http://www.virtualsalt.com/evalu8it.htm

Internet Accuracy Project. Retrieved July 16, 2008 from Accuracy Project. website: http://www.accuracyproject.org/

The CARS Checklist. Retrieved July 18, 2008 from McGraw-Hill. website: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0079876543/student_view0/research_center-999/research_papers30/conducting_web-based_research.html