The same is true of information on the World Wide Web. Just because you read it on the Web doesn't make it true! ANYONE can publish web pages. That can be a good thing or a bad thing, right? The Internet is an open environment where anyone can express an opinion. It can be a potentially dangerous information source or it can open wonderful new windows of information for you to explore. You need to be prepared to evaluate the information you encounter on the Web.

This week you will be EMPOWERED to look at all Web sites with the critical and creative thinking skills you need to be Web-savvy surfers. In the process, you will come up with plenty of ideas to create your own outstanding Web site. If you have Internet access at home, check this out.

Choose one or two of the following online adventures:

• Weird Tricks Used by Advertisers (models and magazine covers, aluminum foil deflector beanies, and super-glued food)
• An Old-Timey Fashion Emergency: Take a trip back in time to see amazing photographs of kids your age that were taken during the Great Depression. Print the Photo Study Guide before you examine the photographs.
• Visit the Texas Information Literacy Tutorial for a challenging online workout that will get you ready for serious surfing in no time at all! Your teacher will be available to help if the going gets tough. CyberTip: Make sure you pick "EVALUATION" when offered a choice, since that's the topic of the week.

Next week you will take a few minutes to create a new document with a word processor. In preparation for this, let’s take a few minutes to discuss some of your past experiences with word processing and desktop publishing. Share what’s on your mind with Advantages? Disadvantages?