This evening I read Ken Vesey's article, The Internet-only Research Approach:Does the Web Really Have All There Is to Say? http://www.fno.org/sept02/internetonly.html In my 6th grade Seminar class, I spend a significant amount of time teaching students not only how to write a research paper, but more importantly, the research process. So the title of this article drew me in. Even with the influx of technology in school, I have maintained with my students that they must include print references in their Works Cited. Recently I have questioned whether I have been grasping onto what I have known for so many years as the way to research. But I feel like Vesey validated the decision I have made to continue this requirement. While we teach the students to evaluate the websites they use for research, the validity of some sites is still questionable. There is also a plethora of information in media centers that may not be accessed (at least not easily) online.
So for now, I will continue to teach students the value in both print resources and the internet.
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I agree that there is value to all types of sources. As a history teacher, I don't think any computer can replace holding a "real" primary source in your hand (a letter, a diary, etc). I also think that our middle schoolers get caught up in the amount of matches that come up on a topic that the validity gets lost. So many times, a book, encylcopedia, etc. can allow them access to the information quickly and then grow interest which will promote further research. I agree that there must be a balance of the two when doing research.
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