Researching with an Online Dictionary: The Free Dictionary by Farlex

What types of information do we access every day? Students turn to their partners to discuss and then all join back together as a class.

Discuss the need to know if the information you receive is accurate. How do we know if something is 'fake news'?

Students discuss as partners times when they have been tricked by what they read or saw. Share as a class.

What are sources you use to determine if something is correct or false? Discuss as pairs then share as a class.

What are research skills? How might we use them? Students first talk together in pairs then in the class discussion.

Today we will use The FreeDictionary in our practice of research skills.

Demonstrate the site, showing the features such as the online dictionary, word of the day, today's birthday, this day in history, today's holiday and article of the day.  The class will use these features to introduce information that will then be researched by student pairs and shared together as a class.

In pairs students access the website. Look at the different features, decide which feature will be investigated today. Share with the class the feature chosen. (If it matters that all features are used, pairs may have to changed to a different feature) Write the assigned features and student names on the board. 

As a class look at the list of reliable online resources or a list you use. Discuss the pros and cons of each type. 

Demonstrate the use of Wikipedia as a starting point for research. As pairs discuss which online resource they want to try. Make a table on the board where student pairs write which source they will use (avoid duplication to get a wider experience with a variety of sources.)

As pairs students decide which sources they want to try.

Encyclopedias:
Encyclopedia.com: Provides comprehensive and authoritative articles on a wide range of topics.(cost to use)
Wikipedia.org While not always considered a primary source, Wikipedia can be a good starting point for general information. It's important to verify information from other reliable sources. Use the References list at the end of the Wikipedia article for sources.
Online Databases:
Google Scholar: Offers access to scholarly articles and conference papers.
Government Websites:
Official government websites provide accurate information on laws, regulations, statistics, and public services.
Examples include the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). There are often graphs and charts available which give students opportunities to practice reading them and spark discussions.
News Organizations:
Established news organizations with a reputation for accuracy and credibility can be reliable sources of current events and factual information.
Examples include BBC News, The New York Times, CNN, NPR, Fox News, NBC, ABC, New York Post.
Fact-Checking Websites:
Fact-checking websites specialize in verifying the accuracy of claims, statements, and news stories.
Examples include FactCheck.org, Snopes, and PolitiFact.
Specialized Websites and Portals:
Websites dedicated to specific topics or industries can provide accurate information and resources.
Examples include NASA's website for space-related information, WebMD for medical information, and Investopedia for financial information.

Using the source they signed up for, each student pair researches the item they chose at The Free Dictionary. Take notes and prepare a short presentation to share what they have learned with the class. Items to include in the presentation: 

• what is being fact-checked from The Free Dictionary
• what resource is being used to investigate 
• ease of use
• What did you like about this resource
• what did you not like about this resource
• conclusion from your fact-checking: accuracy of the item 

Student pairs share their research findings with the class. This can be done in a variety of ways (see below). They can choose or you can have all the students share in the same way. Remind the students that this is an opportunity to learn skills that will be necessary as they go on in school or in the workplace. Possible ways to share their information

1. oral presentatioin
2. use visual aids such as a slide presentation
3. create a poster with the information, the posters can be placed around the room and have a poster walk
4. use an online app such as Flip, Zoom, Google Meet for students to present orally and be recorded. They can use interactive tools such as chat or polls to engage the students.

As pairs, discuss what they learned about researching information from the class presentations. What are pros and cons of different informaton sites? What criteria could they use in the future? Share their conclusions with the class. Write the conclusions on the board.