title:Tree octopus exposes internet illiteracy

Donald Leu, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, conducted a U.S. Department of Education-funded study of internet literacy among so-called “digital natives,” fabricating the tree octopus to test students’ ability to evaluate information they find on the internet.

Researchers asked students to find out information about the endangered Pacific Northwest tree octopus. Students had no problem locating a Web site dedicated to the cause, http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ “but insisted on the existence of the made-up story, even after researchers explained the information on the website was completely fabricated,” according to a press release.

Leu’s conclusions are serious. As the internet becomes the primary tool for research, we are failing to teach kids how to critically analyze information they find there.

This isn't a new phenomena. The proof: the election of Barack Obama to US president.

They had many opportunities to review free concerts in the area, including at church. It was just prohibited to review one that they were performing in. How can you review your own performance? Also, they could be excused in the case of hardship. One student was excused because his father had suffered a stroke and was in a drug-induced coma in the hospital. He still managed to complete the assignment by reviewing a CD, even though he wasn’t required.

Had this girl asked, my daughter would have taken her (and any other student who asked)to a local concert. My daughter sings with the symphony chorus and could have arranged free tickets for anyone asking.

No, this child just ignored the parameters of the assignment which were in writing, on the school website and repeated at every class. Then she complained because she got a low grade. And she didn’t even put her name on her paper! I think my daughter was very generous to raise her grade from 0 (no paper turned in) to 1/2 credit (paper identified but didn’t fulfill the assignment.)

Hey I have been hunting Jackalope for years... They exist I swear. Granted we normally only see them on the 31st of February under a full moon & after plenty of adult beverages, but they do exist.

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