GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #14
Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age – Use of Gadgets, Web Materials:
and Social Media Student Activity Sheets, Pen/marker,
TV
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
1. Identify how the use of gadgets, use of web and social media References:
influenced our lives. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-
2. Examine how these issues affect our lives. tech/technology/gadgets/from-
affection-to-
1. addiction/article7210153.ece
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Hi there young scientists! I know that you did great in your exam last meeting. Today we will discuss the
issues concerning the use of gadgets, web and social media. At the end of the session, try to reflect how social
media affect or influence our lives. You are going to answer the Activity 1 below. Are you ready?
B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)
In his article “Truths of the Information Age” (n.d.), Robert Harris detailed some facts on the Information Age.
1.) Information must compete. There is a need for information to stand out and be recognized in the increasing clutter.
2.) Newer is equated with truer. We forgot the truth that any fact or value can endure.
3.) Selection is a viewpoint. Choose multiple sources for your information if you want to receive a more balanced view
of reality.
4.) The media sells what the culture buys. In other words, information is driven by cultural priorities.
5.) The early word gets the perm. The first media channel to expose an issue often defines the context, terms, and
attitudes surrounding it.
6.) You are what you eat and so is your brain. Do not draw conclusions unless all ideas and information are presented to
you.
7.) Anything in great demand will be counterfeited. The demand for incredible knowledge, scandals, and secrets is ever-
present; hence, many events are fabricated by tabloids, publicists, or other agents of information fraud.
8.) Ideas are seen as controversial. It is almost certainly impossible to make any assertion that will not find some
supporters and some detractors.
9.) Undead information walks ever on. Rumors, lies, disinformation and gossips never truly die down. They persist and
continue and continue to circulate.
10.) Media presence creates the story. People behave much differently from the way they would if being filmed when the
media are present, especially film news or television media.
11.) The medium selects the message. Television is mainly pictorial, partially aural and slightly textual, so visual stories
are emphasized: fires, chases and disasters.
12.) The whole truth is a pursuit. The information that reaches us is usually selected, verbally charged, filtered, slanted
and sometimes fabricated. What is neglected is often even more important than what is included.
(Source: Harris, R. (n.d.). “Truths of the Information Age.” Accessed February 26, 2017.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/infotrue.htm.)
HOW TO CHECK THE RELIABILITY OF THE WEB SOURCES
The internet contains a vast collection of highly valuable information but it may also contain unreliable, biased
information that mislead people. The following guidelines can help us check the reliability of web sources that we gather.
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 1
, GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #14
It is noteworthy to consider and apply the following guidelines to avoid misinformation.
1.) Who is the author of the article/site? Look for an “About” or “More About the Author” link at the top, bottom, or
sidebar of the webpage. Try searching on the internet for information about the author.
2.) Who published the site? Look at the domain name of the website that will tell you who is hosting the site. Search the
domain name at http://www.whois.sc/. The site provides information about the owners of the registered domain
names. Do not ignore the suffix on the domain name. Here are some examples:
.edu = educational; .com = commercial; .mil = military; .gov = government; .org = nonprofit
3.) What is the main purpose of the site? Why did the author write it and why did the publisher post it?
4.) Who is the intended audience? (scholars or the general public? Which age group is it written for? Is it aimed at people
from a particular geographic area? Is it aimed at members of a particular profession or with specific training?)
5.) What is the quality of information provided on the website?
Timeliness: When was the website first published? Is it regularly updated? Check for dates at the bottom of each
page on the site.
Does the author cite sources? Just as in print sources, web sources that cite their sources are considered more
reliable.
What type of other sites does the website link to? Are they reputable sites? What types of sites link to the website
are you evaluating? Is the website being cited by others?
(Source: Lee College Library. (n.d.). “How Can I Tell if a Website is Reliable?” Accessed August 2017.
https://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/Legacy_Cycle/mf_jm/Challenge%201/website%20reliable.pdf
.)
Concept Graphic Organizer
Use of Gadgets, Web and Social Media
Positive Effects Negative Effects
Stimulate senses & imagination, Difficulty concentrating on studies,
promote listening ability, encourage less physical activity, health
cognitive learning, develop problems (obesity), decreased social
analytical skills, improve manual relationship, poor writing skill, etc.
dexterity, etc.
Web Media Social Media
- Computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the
- The Web is a collection of interconnected documents
creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests
(web pages) and other web resources, linked
and other forms of expression via virtual
by hyperlinks and URLs.
communities and networks.
- the World Wide Web or the Web is only one of a large
number of Internet services - User-generated content, such as text posts or
- Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP, is the language comments, digital photos or videos, and data generated
used on the Web for information transfer through all online interactions, is the lifeblood of social
media.
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 2
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #14
Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age – Use of Gadgets, Web Materials:
and Social Media Student Activity Sheets, Pen/marker,
TV
Lesson Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
1. Identify how the use of gadgets, use of web and social media References:
influenced our lives. http://www.thehindu.com/sci-
2. Examine how these issues affect our lives. tech/technology/gadgets/from-
affection-to-
1. addiction/article7210153.ece
A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW
1) Introduction (2 mins)
Hi there young scientists! I know that you did great in your exam last meeting. Today we will discuss the
issues concerning the use of gadgets, web and social media. At the end of the session, try to reflect how social
media affect or influence our lives. You are going to answer the Activity 1 below. Are you ready?
B. MAIN LESSON
1) Activity 1: Content Notes (13 mins)
In his article “Truths of the Information Age” (n.d.), Robert Harris detailed some facts on the Information Age.
1.) Information must compete. There is a need for information to stand out and be recognized in the increasing clutter.
2.) Newer is equated with truer. We forgot the truth that any fact or value can endure.
3.) Selection is a viewpoint. Choose multiple sources for your information if you want to receive a more balanced view
of reality.
4.) The media sells what the culture buys. In other words, information is driven by cultural priorities.
5.) The early word gets the perm. The first media channel to expose an issue often defines the context, terms, and
attitudes surrounding it.
6.) You are what you eat and so is your brain. Do not draw conclusions unless all ideas and information are presented to
you.
7.) Anything in great demand will be counterfeited. The demand for incredible knowledge, scandals, and secrets is ever-
present; hence, many events are fabricated by tabloids, publicists, or other agents of information fraud.
8.) Ideas are seen as controversial. It is almost certainly impossible to make any assertion that will not find some
supporters and some detractors.
9.) Undead information walks ever on. Rumors, lies, disinformation and gossips never truly die down. They persist and
continue and continue to circulate.
10.) Media presence creates the story. People behave much differently from the way they would if being filmed when the
media are present, especially film news or television media.
11.) The medium selects the message. Television is mainly pictorial, partially aural and slightly textual, so visual stories
are emphasized: fires, chases and disasters.
12.) The whole truth is a pursuit. The information that reaches us is usually selected, verbally charged, filtered, slanted
and sometimes fabricated. What is neglected is often even more important than what is included.
(Source: Harris, R. (n.d.). “Truths of the Information Age.” Accessed February 26, 2017.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/infotrue.htm.)
HOW TO CHECK THE RELIABILITY OF THE WEB SOURCES
The internet contains a vast collection of highly valuable information but it may also contain unreliable, biased
information that mislead people. The following guidelines can help us check the reliability of web sources that we gather.
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 1
, GEN 003: Science, Technology and Society
Student Activity Sheet
Lesson #14
It is noteworthy to consider and apply the following guidelines to avoid misinformation.
1.) Who is the author of the article/site? Look for an “About” or “More About the Author” link at the top, bottom, or
sidebar of the webpage. Try searching on the internet for information about the author.
2.) Who published the site? Look at the domain name of the website that will tell you who is hosting the site. Search the
domain name at http://www.whois.sc/. The site provides information about the owners of the registered domain
names. Do not ignore the suffix on the domain name. Here are some examples:
.edu = educational; .com = commercial; .mil = military; .gov = government; .org = nonprofit
3.) What is the main purpose of the site? Why did the author write it and why did the publisher post it?
4.) Who is the intended audience? (scholars or the general public? Which age group is it written for? Is it aimed at people
from a particular geographic area? Is it aimed at members of a particular profession or with specific training?)
5.) What is the quality of information provided on the website?
Timeliness: When was the website first published? Is it regularly updated? Check for dates at the bottom of each
page on the site.
Does the author cite sources? Just as in print sources, web sources that cite their sources are considered more
reliable.
What type of other sites does the website link to? Are they reputable sites? What types of sites link to the website
are you evaluating? Is the website being cited by others?
(Source: Lee College Library. (n.d.). “How Can I Tell if a Website is Reliable?” Accessed August 2017.
https://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/Legacy_Cycle/mf_jm/Challenge%201/website%20reliable.pdf
.)
Concept Graphic Organizer
Use of Gadgets, Web and Social Media
Positive Effects Negative Effects
Stimulate senses & imagination, Difficulty concentrating on studies,
promote listening ability, encourage less physical activity, health
cognitive learning, develop problems (obesity), decreased social
analytical skills, improve manual relationship, poor writing skill, etc.
dexterity, etc.
Web Media Social Media
- Computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the
- The Web is a collection of interconnected documents
creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests
(web pages) and other web resources, linked
and other forms of expression via virtual
by hyperlinks and URLs.
communities and networks.
- the World Wide Web or the Web is only one of a large
number of Internet services - User-generated content, such as text posts or
- Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP, is the language comments, digital photos or videos, and data generated
used on the Web for information transfer through all online interactions, is the lifeblood of social
media.
This document is the property of Phinma Education Page 2
