Literacy is competence or knowledge in a specified area. Searching is a form of literacy. We often treat searching as something quick we do to reach an answer. But how did we learn how to search? How are our students learning?
We teach students specific, discrete skills when we want their reading literacy to improve, focusing on the Five Essential Elements of Reading Instruction. Along with discrete skills, we give them experiences to practice these skills in isolation and in context.
Five Essential Elements of Search Literacy
- Query Awareness: Pick out appropriate keywords from the question for the initial search
- Reading - Phonemic awareness: Work with discrete sounds, recognize, isolate, manipulate phonemes
- Predict the Result: Know what your ideal answer should look like
- Reading - Phonics: Understanding relationships between letters, sounds and words, recognizing patterns
- Use Operators, Tools and Filters: Know and use operators, products, tools and filters to narrow your search
- Reading - Fluency: Recognize and group words as reading
- Vocabulary: Understand and use the language of search and know the different tools available
- Reading - Vocabulary: Words to know to communicate effectively
- Understand the Result: Evaluate your results and make adjustments until you are satisfied
- Reading - Comprehension: Understand what you are reading, relate text to prior knowledge, and construct new knowledge and understanding