Grade 12

EMPOWERMENT TECHNOLOGIES
Quarter I – Module 3:
ICT in the Context of Global Communication
(CS_ICT11/12-ICTPT-Ia-b-1)
I. WHAT I NEED TO KNOW
Lesson 3: Effective Internet Research
The Internet has made our lives easier especially in terms of doing research. By browsing
the internet, we can access limitless topics. Web-based catalogs are available in many
libraries to assist researchers in locating printed books, journals, government documents and
other materials. The biggest obstacle facing all researchers on the internet is how to
effectively and efficiently access the vast amount of information available (The Internet:
Research Tools, 2013).
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Facilitate the practice in judging the credibility, value, and usefulness of researched
materials.
2. Use the Internet as a tool for credible research and information gathering to best
achieve specific objectives.

II. WHAT I KNOW

Answer the Pre-Test on activity sheet.

III.WHAT’S IN
Answer the ACTIVITY 3.1 on activity sheet.

IV. WHAT IS IT
Lesson 3.1: Searching the Web
There are billions of information on the web and it is a challenge for us to truly find which
information is reliable and relevant. Here are some tips you may use to be able to look for
relevant and reliable sources:

Search Engines are websites used for retrieval of data, files, or documents from data bases.
Some search engines we use today are:

Anatomy of a URL
A URL is one type of Uniform Resource Identifier (URI). It is a generic term for all types of
names and addresses that refer to objects on the World Wide Web. Knowing the URL
endings will give you clues to who is sponsoring the website and help evaluate the sources.
1. PROTOCOL 2. SUBDOMAIN 3. DOMAIN NAME 4. TOPLEVEL DOMAIN

5. FOLDER/PATH 6. PAGE 7. NAMED ANCHOR

Popular Domains

Search Skills and Tools

1. Boolean Logic – narrows, broadens, or eliminates search term.
a. Boolean “or” – this operator will find pages that
include either of the search terms.
Ex. A or B

b. Boolean “and” – this operator will retrieve only

pages containing both terms
Ex. A and B

c. Boolean “not” – this operator will find pages

that do not include search term immediately following it. Ex.
A not B

2. Phase Searching – is used to search for famous quotes, proper names, recommendations,
etc. It encloses the phrase in quotation marks.
Ex. “Jane Doe” “To be or not to be”
3. Plus (+) – indicates that the word after the sign is a required word must be found in
search. Example: +fire
4. Minus (–) sign – indicates to exclude a word from your search that is not
required on the result. Example: Jaguar speed –car
5. Ampersand (@) is used to find social tags.
Example: @SteveJobs
6. Hashtag (#) is used to find popular hashtags.
Example: #LawOfClassroom
7. Finding Documents – using the file type refines the search for documents on the web.
 filetype:pdf
 filetype:doc
 filetype:xls
Ex. ICT in the Philippines pdf

Searching Site – the sites find webpage from a website. Ex.: National Geographic information in
Australia Search: Australia site: NationalGeographic.com

Evaluating Sites

The web provides access to some excellent information and can also give access to those that are
irrelevant and outdated. Here is some checklist that you can use to evaluate your website:

1. Authority. It reveals that the person, institution or agency responsible for a site has the
qualifications and knowledge to do so. Evaluating a web site for authority:
 Authorship: It should be clear who developed the site.
 Contact information should be clearly provided: e-mail address, snail mail address, phone
number, and fax number.
 Credentials: the author should state qualifications, credentials, or personal background that
gives them authority to present information.
 Check to see if the site supported by an organization or a commercial body
2. Purpose. The purpose of the information presented in the site should be clear. Some sites are
meant to inform, persuade, state an opinion, entertain, or parody something or someone.
Evaluating a web site for purpose:
 Does the content support the purpose of the site?
 Is the information geared to a specific audience (students, scholars, general reader)?
 Is the site organized and focused?
 Are the outside links appropriate for the site?
 Does the site evaluate the links?
3. Coverage. This refers to how comprehensive the website is in their discussion of certain topics.
Evaluating a web site for coverage:
 Does the site claim to be selective or comprehensive?
 Are the topics explored in depth?
 Compare the value of the site’s information compared to other similar sites.
 Do the links go to outside sites rather than its own?
 Does the site provide information with no relevant outside links?
4. Currency. It refers to: (1) how current the information presented is, and (2) how often the site is
updated or maintained. It is important to know when a site was created, when it was last
updated, and if all of the links are current. Evaluating a web site for currency involves finding
the date information was:
 first written
 placed on the web
 last revised
5. Objectivity. Objective sites present information with a minimum of bias. Evaluating a web site
for objectivity:
 Is the information presented with a particular bias?
 Does the information try to sway the audience?
 Does site advertising conflict with the content?
 Is the site trying to explain, inform, persuade, or sell something?
6. Accuracy. It refers to the credibility of the website. Evaluating a web site for accuracy:
Reliability: Is the author affiliated with a known, respectable institution?
 References: do statistics and other factual information receive proper references as to their
origin?
 Is the information comparable to other sites on the same topic?
 Does the text follow basic rules of grammar, spelling and composition?
 Is a bibliography or reference list included?