Building Information Literacy: Using sInvestigator to Evaluate the Credibility of Internet Sources

• In Event: Higher Education and Teacher Preparation Perspectives on Technologies + Pedagogies

Abstract

The interdisciplinary NSF-funded research project "Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in Science with sInvestigator” supports undergraduate students as they explore scientific topics and problems with the use of an intelligent computer system called sInvestigator (science Investigator). The research team will share results from the first year of this three-year project. sInvestigator creates a real-time graphical model of evidentiary reasoning based on student data entry and justifications. Preliminary findings indicate that integrating lecture-based instruction with collaborative use of sInvestigator to engage students in evidence-based reasoning builds information literacy within the content area. The research team also concluded that sInvestigator design principles have the potential to build argumentation skills in other disciplines.

Authors

• Terrie McLaughlin Galanti, University of North Florida

• Nancy Holincheck, George Mason University

• Georghe Tecuci

• Mihai Boicu, George Mason University

• James trefil

• Dorin Marcu