Text precision

I found the following digital story fromYouTube really facinating. I consider books to be accurate and precise in their information, but I find that this video challenges that idea. Text is editable and we are able to edit even faster digitally, than with books. Previously you had to wait for the next edition to make any changes to a book. Now you can open your website/wiki etc. click edit and away you go.

As a student, I have frequently been warned about using information from websites: make sure its credible. I think since starting tertiary education I have been warned on this at least 10 times. But what about books? I can think of only one instance where a tutor mentioned to be aware of a books intent. Anyone can publish a book, its just a matter of money (BTW did you know that when a new book is published, a copy must be given to the State Library?) so how is this different from the web? Its seems as though we are taught to be more sceptical and analytical of the web because its the newest way to impart information, rather than the 'expertness' of the information that it contains.

Tags: multimedia literacy
Posted at 03:45PM Sep 09, 2008 by April W  |