Journal # 8 "Find the truth about the Pacific Tree Octopus"

Ferrell, Keith. (August 2011). Find the truth about the pacific tree octopus. Learning & Leading with Technology, 39(1), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-august-2011.aspx


In the short article, "Find the Truth about the Pacific Tree Octopus", fourth grade teacher, Keith Ferrell, shares the hilarious experience he had with a research project he gave to his students. The two topics were: "The tree octopus" and "All about explorers". He purposely did not teach them the appropriate and effective way to research for information online, which was evidenced by the "facts" that the students presented to the class. For example, one of their findings was that Christopher Columbus was born in Sidney, Australia! Or that, suggested by the title of the article, the Pacific Northwest tree octopus can be found in the temperate rainforests of North America. It was clear that the students had typed the research topic in the Google search engine and clicked on the first links they saw. After sharing their findings, the students noticed that their findings where flawed and their "facts" were actually lies creatively constructed. However, after teaching them the 5 W's when doing research, the fourth graders became critical researchers, being more aware of the sources where they obtained information. I relate to this article because I had a similar experience with my students. We always do internet scavenger hunts and it is amusing to see what kind of facts they are able to find. They have become better researchers because I have emphasize to them the importance of making sure their findings or facts are accurate. 


Question #1: What does this article tell us, and students, about "facts"? 


I think that besides the practical knowledge of being careful when searching and selecting information on the web, it also teaches them to look at "facts" critically. Knowledge can be constructed and manipulated. The student's in Mr. Ferrell's class were amazed at the verisimilitude of the "facts" that they found on the internet. The videoclip is authentically absurd (an octupus living on a tropical tree?) and it has a high  level of sophistication to appear real. However, it pertains to all kinds of knowledge. Even reliable and established sources can be bias when they  construct and reproduce knowledge. 


Question #2: Why is it important to teach students the legal and ethical behaviors when selecting, acquiring and citing their sources at a young age such fourth grade?


More than anything, I think it has to do with honesty, professional, academic, and personal. Academic dishonesty such as plagiarism is the most common example. The pressures of succeeding in school may lead students to copy someone else's work. By teaching them how to cite sources properly, young students will be better prepared for later.