Research Tools
Citing your sources -- Noodletools
Link directly to https://my.noodletools.com/logon/signin
Watch this VIDEO to learn how to log into NoodleTools, starting a new project, add sources, and print or export your "Works Cited" information to Drive
Google Search Tips
Search on Google
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you easily find info on Google.
Tip 1: Start with the basics
No matter what you look for, start with a simple search like where's the closest airport?
You can add more descriptive words if needed.
If you're looking for a place or product in a specific location, add the location in your search. For example, bakery seattle
.
Tip 2: Search with your voice
To search with your voice, tap the Microphone . Learn how to search with your voice.
Tip 3: Choose words carefully
Use terms that are likely to appear on the site you're looking for. For example, instead of my head hurts
, say headache
, because that’s the term a medical site uses.
Tip 4: Do not worry about the little things
- Spelling: Google's spell checker uses the most common spelling of a given word, regardless of how you spell it.
- Capitalization: A search for
New York Times
is the same as a search fornew york times
.
Tip 5: Find quick answers
For many searches, Google provides answers directly in the search results. Some features, such as details about sports teams, aren't available in all regions.
- Weather: Search
weather
to find the weather in your location or add a city name, likeweather
seattle
, to find weather for a certain place. - Dictionary: Put
define
in front of any word to find its definition. - Calculations: Enter a math equation such as
3*9123
, or solve complex graphing equations. - Unit conversions: Enter any conversion, such as
3 dollars in euros
. - Sports: To find a schedule, game scores, and more, search for the name of your team.
- Quick facts: Search for the name of a celebrity, location, movie, or song to find related info.
Expert Search tips
To discover additional tips for advanced search, click on the links below.
Evaluating Research Resources
The SIFT Method
The SIFT method is an evaluation strategy developed by digital literacy expert, Mike Caulfield, to help determine whether online content can be trusted for credible or reliable sources of information. All SIFT information on this page is adapted from his materials with a CC BY 4.0 license.
Determining if resources are credible is challenging. Use the SIFT method to help you analyze information, especially news or other online media.
S - Stop
Before you read or share an article or video, STOP!
Be aware of your emotional response to the headline or information in the article. Headlines are often meant to get clicks, and will do so by causing the reader to have a strong emotional response.
Before sharing, consider:
What you already know about the topic.
What you know about the source. Do you know it's reputation?
Before moving forward or sharing, use the other three moves: Investigate the Source, Find Better Coverage, and Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media back to the Original Context.
I - Investigate the Source
The next step before sharing is to Investigate the Source.
Take a moment to look up the author and source publishing the information.
What can you find about the author/website creators?
What is their mission? Do they have vested interests? Would their assessment be biased?
Do they have authority in the area?
Use lateral reading. Go beyond the 'About Us' section on the organization's website and see what other, trusted sources say about the source. You can use Google or Wikipedia to investigate the source.
Hovering is another technique to learn more about who is sharing information, especially on social media platforms such as Twitter.
F - Find Better Coverage
The next step is to Find Better Coverage or other sources that may or may not support the original claim.
Again, use lateral reading to see if you can find other sources corroborating the same information or disputing it.
What coverage is available on the topic?
Keep track of trusted news sources.
Many times, fact checkers have already looked into the claims. These fact-checkers are often nonpartisan, nonprofit websites that try to increase public knowledge and understanding by fact checking claims to see if they are based on fact or if they are biased/not supported by evidence.
T - Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to their Original Context
The final step is to Trace Claims, Quotes, and Media to their Original Context.
When an article references a quote from an expert, or results of a research study, it is good practice to attempt to locate the original source of the information. Click through the links to follow the claims to the original source of information. Open up the original reporting sources listed in a bibliography if present
Was the claim, quote, or media fairly represented?
Does the extracted information support the original claims in the research?
Is information being cherry-picked to support an agenda or a bias?
Is information being taken out of context?
Remember, headlines, blog posts, or tweets may sensationalize facts to get more attention or clicks. Re-reporting may omit, misinterpret, or select certain facts to support biased claims. If the claim is taken from a source who took it from another source, important facts and contextual information can be left out. Make sure to read the claims in the original context in which they were presented.
When in doubt, contact an expert--like a librarian :)
Evaluating News Sources
Does the news you're reading or listening to have a specific perspective? Use this interactive chart to help you evaluate your resource. Click on "GO TO DASHBOARD" to access the DPHS account. (you can only access the school account from the high school, not at home)