Double Entry Journal #15

Deconstructing Digital Natives: Chapter 8 Beyond Google and The "Satisficing" Searching of Digital Natives.

1. What is the purpose of this chapter?

 As many of the other chapters, this chapter is focused on separating the term "digital native" from students.

2. What is the major finding from a review of studies that have looked at technology adoption of young people?. Does this finding seem to reflect your own use of technology?

 The major finding is that students don't adopt new technologies immediately.  It takes time to adopt new technologies.  I feel that it reflects my use of technology.  I am very hesitant when using "new" technology.  For example, I refused to purchase a phone with a touchscreen until it was my only option.  It didn't appeal to me!

3. How do the authors define Information Literacy?

 The ability to find, evaluate, and use the information we need and weed out the information we don't need.

4. What is the "clear message" from a review of the studies focused on college students information seeking behavior? Do these findings relfect your own information seeking behaviors?

The review shows that when searching for material to study, students use more "unreliable" sources such as Google and Wikipedia.  It is easier and less scholarly to use these, but it requires less effort and is just easier.  I completely believe this and do this.  If I don't get results for research in Google, then I become frustrated and am completely turned off by the assignment.

5. What does the term "satisficing" in the area of decision making mean?

 It means that "near enough is good enough."  As long as it suffices, it will satisfy.

6. What are the differences to deep and surface level approaches to a learning task? 

 Deep level is reaching further into a topic, where surface level is focused on the main concepts.

7. What should educators aim to do to improve the scripts student have for sophisticated online information seeking?

 Educators should aim to teach students to scope the Internet better and conduct more thorough research.

8. Why is Google's page rank system problematic for information seeking?

 It does not guarantee the site is reliable or necessarily relevant.

9. Are you "digitally wise" when it comes to information seeking? Give an example of how you approached an information seeking task for one of your academic courses this semester (do not include this class).

 I believe I am digitally wise for the most part, but I easily become frustrated when I have to "dig deeper" in to my research.  I do not want to have to back check everything and be a detective.  I wish for the information that I read to be valid and that be that.  However, I am aware that it is not that way and I will check my information when I see necessary.  I do not really have any other classes other than this one that requires me to seek research.  I sometimes check online for help on math proofs if that counts?

10. Has the popularity of the Internet and the information contained on the Web created a new problem for undergraduate students research skills? Why or Why not?
 Because there is such a vast amount of information on the Web, students have a harder time taming and seeking what they need to conduct research.  It's overwhelming, actually.  Less might actually be more (or enough).  When having so many options and so many possibilities, heads will begin to spin and frustration rises because what is right and what is wrong?  What is valid and what is bias?  It's time consuming and is more than likely why plagiarism is such an issue (in my opinion).