Think Quest -Opinions?

[Jacqueline Henry <jhenry@GANANDA.ORG>]

Seeing ThinkQuest coming up as a topic, made me wonder....  I teach web =
evaluation and grade works cited lists for certain projects at our school. =
 I have been taking points off for students using ThinkQuest, because =
ThinkQuest pages are student authored and the rubric I use requires that =
the sources be authoritative.  I recognize that many of the ThinkQuest =
sites are excellent.  Still - what assurance is there that the information =
on the sites is accurate?  Is all the content "vetted" by authorities on =
the subject?  I spend quite a bit of time showing my high school students =
sites that have been used in the past that are actually written by =
elementary school students. They understand that these sites are not =
acceptable.  However, they do think that a website put together by a high =
school student is acceptable, provided there is a good works cited list =
attached to it.  I tell them that such sites are not acceptable, because =
it would require their teachers to check the website in depth for =
accuracy, and that is not their teachers job.  It is the student's job to =
use only sites that are written by expert authors and high school student =
are not considered experts.  What about ThinkQuest?  I have seen many very =
reliable web sources link to ThinkQuest sites.  Is that sufficient proof =
for me to allow ThinkQuest as an authoritative site?

I would appreciate hearing your opinions.

Jacquie

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those that wander are lost"
 J.R.R. Tolkien
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jacquie Henry, MLS
Ruben A. Cirillo High School (GHS)
Gananda Central School District
3195 Wiedrick Road
Walworth, NY  14568
jhenry@gananda.org
http://www.gananda.org/library/mshslibrary/indexgcl.htm

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