Learning Objectives

• Teach students how to evaluate information within Points of View Reference Center.
• Teach students how to apply information gathered from Points of View Reference Center.
• Locate instructional resources to support classroom instruction.
• Learn how to use features within Points of View Reference Center to support student learning.  

Evaluating Information with Points of View Reference Center

Evaluating information in a digital environment provides a unique set of challenges. The quantity of information freely available is overwhelming, and students must learn early on how to review found information to determine its value in answering their questions or pointing them in a new direction. Students must learn to evaluate the quality of the digital information they are using, recognize bias in a publication, and determine the veracity of a website. Databases, like Points of View Reference Center, can support students with quality information and the instructional supports to become expert evaluators of digital content. Learn more about strategies for evaluating information by reading the Teach with INFOhio blog post Inquiry and INFOhio: Evaluating Information. 

Points of View Reference Center Resources for Evaluating Information

Located within the Reference Shelf, Points of View Reference Center offers resources and templates to help your students evaluate the information they find in databases and online. 

1. From the Points of View Reference Center homepage, find the Reference Shelf and select See all research guides. 
2. You will find the following research guides to help students develop evaluating information skills including recognizing bias, judging fact vs. opinion, and evaluating a website. 

• How to Understand the Bias of a Publication

• Judging Fact vs. Opinion

• Evaluating a Website

1. Share the guide with students using Google Classroom, save it to Google Drive, or access it using the permalink.
2. Use the guides with articles from Points of View Reference Center, articles from ISearch, and digital content found online. 

Research guides include the following features that support differentiation.

• Lexile Level: Use the Lexile Level to find resources at the "just right" reading level for your students.
• Enhanced Text Visibility: Use the read aloud feature to support all learners. To learn more about this feature, revisit the lesson Using Points of View Reference Center.

Applying Information with Points of View Reference Center

Applying information includes integrating information presented in different formats and analyzing two or more texts presenting conflicting information on the same topic. With access to charts, graphs, and point and counterpoint articles on a variety of trending topics, Points of View Reference Center is perfect for helping students develop the ability to apply information once it has been located and evaluated. Learn more about strategies for applying information by reading the Teach with INFOhio blog post Inquiry and INFOhio: Applying Information. 

Points of View Reference Center Resources for Applying Information

The Guide to Critical Analysis can support your students as they apply information from the overview, point, and counterpoint articles as they prepare for a debate, oral presentation, or position paper.

• You can access the Guide to Critical Analysis from the Related Items menu.

• Or, perform a keyword search for Guide to Critical Analysis.
  • With over 400 results to choose from, you can narrow your results by selecting Advanced Search. 
  • Results can be limited by Lexile Level, to support your selection of resources for your students. 

The Guide to Critical Analysis allows students to apply information by integrating information from multiple sources. Students can access the Overview, Point, and Counterpoint articles from the Guide to Critical Analysis. The Guide to Critical Analysis encourages students to consider all sides of a topic before arriving at a conclusion.

• The In Depth section asks students to locate additional sources (magazines, journals, blogs, newspapers, reference books, images, etc.) and apply what they have learned from these additional sources of information to answer the following questions. 
• The You Decide section asks students to apply what they learned to arrive at a conclusion on the topic and offer solutions.

Monday Mini Lessons

Monday Mini Lessons focus on strategies educators need to connect with, and engage, students during this time of social distancing. These model lessons are practical approaches with learned best practices to support the use of digital content in instruction whether face-to-face or virtual. 

Watch the Mini Lesson below on using Points of View Reference Center to teach Social Awareness. 

Read the blog that accompanies this video to learn more about how you can use Points of View in the classroom. 

Reflecting on Your Learning 

1. What are two things you are doing in your classroom or instruction that will make integrating Points of View Reference Center easier?
2. What is one challenge you face in implementing Points of View Reference Center as a teaching resource?
3. What steps will you take to overcome challenges to using Points of View Reference Center in your classroom?