Internet as Science Source

The Pew Internet & American Life Project, this time in collaboration with the Exploratorium, has conducted yet another national survey citing that fully 40 million Americans use the Internet as their primary source of news and information about science and 87% of online users have at one time used the Internet to carry out research on a scientific topic or concept. The good news is that, with careful consideration of the info available, teachers and students are getting timely updates. The cautionary news is that teachers and students also need to check the sources of the information they are getting as well as when it was put up online to make sure they are getting accurate information. For more on detecting misinformation see Misinformation – Truth or Spoof on this site.