Digital Literacy
An interactive story by Emmy Rhizal
[[Start]]
[[Works Cited]]You rush inside, trying not to get wet. It was a long day at school, and all you really want to do is lounge around, take a nap, read a book, or watch a movie. Plus, it's a rainy day, and that makes yout tired. However, you know you have to do your homework first.
You decide to start on your research paper, since it is due soon. The assignment is to pick an animal and describe what they look like, where they live, and what they eat.
You grab your laptop and sit on the couch to find an animal to write about. You end up picking the koala, because it seems fun but fairly easy. After writing your introduction, you start to research what koalas look like.
After a quick google search, you find a website with a lot of information. You scan it for the description. It says that koalas are a periwinkle blue. Although you’ve never seen a koala before, this doesn’t seem quite right.
[[You decide to check it with some other sources, just to be sure.]]
[[You decide to just go with it - you want to finish this quickly so that you can get on with your afternoon.]]You open a new tab and try you google search again. You scroll down the page, and pick one that seems like it would be helpful.
This website says something different from the first one, however. It says that koalas are actually often grey or a reddish-brown.
Because this answer is different from the last one, you decide to check one more website to make sure you're putting the correct information in your paper.
The third website also says that koalas are often grey or a reddish-brown. You put this fact in your research paper, because it was stated multiple times. Plus, it sounds much more realistic than periwinkle.
You move on to the next paragraph, which means you have to work on finding out where they are found.
The first website says that they live only in Australia. This seems correct,
[[So you decide to go with it.]]
[[But you don't want to take any chances, so you double check this one as well.]]After writing down that koalas are periwinkle, you move on to the next fact you need to put in your essay - where they are found.
Again, you just use a quick google search for this.
The first website you check says they live only in Australia. This seems correct,
[[And you put it into your paper.]]
[[But you remember hearing something else once, so you decide to double-check]]You write how koalas live in Australia into your essay.
You quickly move on to the next part of your essay, which is supposed to be on what koalas eat. You google 'what do koalas eat?' and click on the first website that pops up.
It says they mainly eat eucalyptus leaves. However, you remember hearing that these are poisonouse to most animals.
[[You want to double check. Since you didn't check the last one, you feel like you should check this one.]]
[[At this point, you're ready to be done with your essay.]]The next website says the same thing. You sigh - you just wasted time on that. Well, better safe than sorry!
You move on to the last part of your essay, where you need to find out and write about what koalas eat.
You google 'what do koalas eat?' and click on the first website that pops up.
It says they mainly eat eucalyptus leaves. However, you remember hearing that these are poisonouse to most animals.
[[You want a perfectly correct research paper, so you find another website to cross check the information with.]]
[[After last time, you decide any extra research is pointless.]]So now you have to move on to the last section of your essay - what kaoals eat.
You google 'what do koalas eat?' and click on the first website that pops up.
It says they mainly eat eucalyptus leaves. However, you remember hearing that these are poisonouse to most animals.
[[You decide to look into it, to make sure you get this fact right.]]
[[Your trying to get this done quickly - why would you waste time on researching that?]]It turns out the first website was right - koalas actually do live only in Australia. Oh, well.
You decide to move on to your last topic in your essay, and you want to do it quickly to make up for lost time.
You google 'what do koalas eat?' and click on the first website that pops up.
It says they mainly eat eucalyptus leaves. However, you remember hearing that these are poisonouse to most animals.
[[You decide to do some more reaserch, just to be sure.]]
[[Who cares if it is right? You want to get this done quickly!]]You click on another website. It turns out, koalas do eat eucalyptus leaves! Your pretty mad that you wasted time on this, but then you scroll down and find some more information about why they are able to eat this.
You decide this is good information, and put it in your essay.
You write your conclusion, and decide you are done.
[[You give your essay to your teacher the next day.]][[Continue]]Okay.
You got 70%.
Your teacher doesn't fail you, which is good. Apparently you had enough information, and you did the assignment. However, you had a couple of innacurate things in there, and you definitly could have done with some more information on most of your paragraphs.
Your teacher wanrs you to try a little harder next time.
Good Job.
[[The End]]You click on another website. It turns out, koalas do eat eucalyptus leaves! Your pretty mad that you wasted time on this, but then you scroll down and find some more information about why they are able to eat this.
You decide this is good information, and put it in your essay.
You then write your conclusion before finishing.
[[You turn in your research paper.]]You click on another website. It turns out, koalas do eat eucalyptus leaves! Your pretty mad that you wasted time on this, but then you scroll down and find some more information about why they are able to eat this.
You decide this is good information, and put it in your essay.
You write your conclusion last.
[[You give your essay to your teacher the next day.]]Perfect!
You get 100% on this essay.
Your teacher loved it. She said all of the information was completely accurate, and you even went above and beyond with your fourth paragraph.
Great Job!
[[The End]]Good!
You got 85%!
Your teahcer says you did pretty well. There was the occasional innacuracy, and you could have elaborated a bit more, but overall, it was pretty good.
Nice Work!
[[The End]]You click on another website. It turns out, koalas do eat eucalyptus leaves! Your pretty mad that you wasted time on this, but then you scroll down and find some more information about why they are able to eat this.
You decide this is good information, and put it in your essay.
At school the next day,[[you turn in your essay.]][[You turn your essay in.]]
Terrible.
You got 5% on this essay - 5%!
Your teacher pulls you aside, and looks very dissapointed. They tell you how badly you did. To begin with, you barely had any information at all. And of what you did have, almost all of your it wasn't accurate!
You are told you may have to take summer school if you don't get better grades next time.
Try Harder!
[[The End]]You click on another website. It turns out, koalas do eat eucalyptus leaves! Your pretty mad that you wasted time on this, but then you scroll down and find some more information about why they are able to eat this.
You decide this is good information, and put it in your essay.
Lastly, you write your conclusion.
[[You give your essay to your teacher the next day.]]You write your conclusion, and turn the essay in the next day.
[[Continue]]Pretty bad.
You only got 45%.
You're a little dissapointed - you failed.
Your teacher says you really didn't get enough information, and what you did have was innacurate. It was apparent you didn't try your best, and your teacher expects you to do better.
Try Harder Next Time!
[[The End]]So now you know that it is better to double check your information before useing it for work, a school project, or anything else.
Thank you so much for playing!
[[Works Cited]] Works Cited
“Australian Koala Foundation.” Diet & Habitat | Australian Koala Foundation, www.savethekoala.com/about-koalas/diet-habitat.
“Koala.” National Geographic, 11 Apr. 2010, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/k/koala/.
“Koala Facts.” Conservation Institute, www.conservationinstitute.org/koala-facts/.