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Week 2 · Find, judge, and organize information

Week 2: Find, judge, and organize information

Illustrative West Virginia scenario · fictional people and setting
  1. SourceOrganization + evidence
  2. FolderA name you can find
  3. AccessThe right role + recovery
What you will learn
  • Ask a search tool a full-sentence question that names the service, the place and one detail, then refine it with a follow-up.
  • Read an AI answer as a lead, check it against the organization's own page, and record where you found it.
  • Fill in an online form with only what is needed, and read the confirmation.
  • Save a file with a clear name in a folder you can find, and pack it in a ZIP file.
  • Choose who can view, comment or edit, and pick the right way to get a file back.

Start with a question

Illustrative West Virginia scenario · fictional people and setting
  1. SourceOrganization + evidence
  2. FolderA name you can find

You need a local library’s computer-help service. What information would make the answer usable?

Ask the way you would ask a person

Say what you need, where you are and one detail that matters. Where can I get free computer help near Beckley, WV, in the evening? is a better question than computer help.

Ask a question, then follow up

Too vague

Sample AI search · simulation
computer help
AI answer

A general answer about computers. It does not say where, when or for whom.

Too vague: the answer could be about anywhere. Say what you need and where you are.

Simulation · original fictional screen · nothing is searched or sent

Read the answer as a lead

An AI answer, such as an AI Overview, is a quick summary written from many pages. It can sound sure and still be wrong, out of date or about a different town. Treat it as a lead, not a source.

Find the claim to check

The answer

AI answer · simulation

Community Library in Beckley, WV offers free computer help. It is open until 9 p.m. on weekdays.

It sounds sure and complete. Read it as a lead, not as a fact.

Simulation · original fictional screen · nothing is searched or sent

Open the source behind the answer

Open the organization's own page. Ask who published it, when it was updated and whether it fits your question. If the page and the AI answer disagree, trust the page.

Open the page the answer pointed to

Practice simulation
Simulation · fictional library page
Community computer help

Free drop-in help. Open weekdays until 8 p.m.

Published by
Community Library
Last updated
September 12
Place
Beckley, WV

Select a check to see what it tells you.

Compare two results

An AI answer can link to many pages. These are fictional practice sources. Select a card, then say which page you would open and check first.

Two pages an AI answer might cite
Library pageOrganization + service description + contact + update date
Community postPersonal recommendation + claim, no date
Your taskChoose which page to open first, and say why

When the answer and the page disagree

If the AI answer and the page disagree, trust the organization that runs the service, and confirm hours by phone before you travel.

Compare the answer with the page

What the AI answer says

AI answer · simulation
HoursOpen until 9 p.m.
TownBeckley, WV
Date shownNone

The answer sounds sure, but it shows no date and no way to check.

Simulation · original fictional screens · nothing is searched or sent

Keep a source trail

Record the title, organization, address, access date and the specific detail you used. If an AI answer led you to the page, record the page it pointed to, not the summary.

Leave a trail another person can follow

Name the page

My source note · simulation

Community computer help

Title / organizationCommunity computer help / Community Library
URL / date accessedexample.org/help / today
Detail usedOpen weekdays until 8 p.m.

Record the title and the organization.

Simulation · original fictional note · use fictional details only

Collect only what the task needs

Forms and surveys collect responses into a shared system. Identify who collects the data, why, and which fields are required before typing.

Pause before filling a form

Who receives this?

Practice help request
Collector / purposeLearning team / arrange computer help
Required / optionalHelp topic / extra detail
ReviewFinding a file · desk visit · fictional data

Identify the collector and purpose before entering information.

Illustrative example · select a choice to explore

Practice form: request computer help

Use fictional details in this local practice form. Check required fields, review your choices and read the confirmation.

Name files so you can find them

Use a clear subject and version: library-help-v1.docx. Keep related files in one folder, such as Community resources. Avoid names such as final-final-new.

Make the filename do useful work

final-final-new.docx

Community resources / fictional files
Namefinal-final-new.docx
What this tells youUnclear subject and version

This name makes the next person guess.

Illustrative example · select a choice to explore

Central storage needs clear access

A shared drive keeps one common copy in one place. The service, account or organization controls who can open it and how long it is kept. Sharing a link does not make someone the owner.

A shared link is a doorway

One common file

One shared file
One agreed copy
OwnerYou — control access
PartnerAlex — commenter
Common copyCommunity resources / library-help-v1.docx

Agree which shared location holds the current copy.

Illustrative example · select a choice to explore

Sync, backup, and recovery

Sync copies changes, including deletions, between your computer and an online service. A backup is a separate copy kept somewhere else. Version history, kept by services such as OneDrive and Google Docs, may bring back earlier wording.

Watch a deletion travel

Practice simulation
One synced file · two locations

This computer

library-help-v1.docx

Cloud account

library-help-v1.docx
Separate backuplibrary-help-v1.docx · earlier saved copy

A separate backup is outside this sync relationship. Try deleting the synced file.

Watch: search, judge, share, recover

Follow the worked examples, pause for practice, and choose a chapter to replay a skill. Connect the task to a household or community situation you know.

Captions are available in the player. Read the full transcript.

Choose a chapter or replay a skill

Choose who can change the file

A viewer reads. A commenter suggests, where the service offers it. An editor changes content. Google Drive says Viewer, Commenter and Editor; OneDrive says Can view and Can edit. Give each named person the least access the task needs.

This simulation changes no real file access.

Preview what a recipient can do

Recipient preview · fictional
RoleViewer
Available actionRead the content
OwnershipRemains with the owner

Fictional local simulation · nothing is sent or changed on your device

Read-only is not encryption

Read-only stops changes, but the file can still be read and copied. Encryption scrambles the content so only someone with the password or key can read it. A password to open and a password to modify protect different things.

Choose the protection you mean

Can read; cannot edit

File protection
ReadableYes
EditableNo

Read-only limits changes. It does not hide the content.

Illustrative example · select a choice to explore

Compression packages files

A ZIP file bundles several files into one and can make them smaller to send. Extract it before editing. Photos and video are often already compressed. A ZIP file is not encryption or a backup.

Pack, then unpack

resources.zip

Pack and extract
handout.docx
budget.csv

Package ↓

resources.zipPackaged files

An archive bundles files and may reduce their size.

Illustrative example · select a choice to explore

Recover the right thing

Missing file? Check the Recycle Bin or the service's recycle bin. Wrong wording? Use version history, which needs a service such as OneDrive or Google Docs. Preview first and tell collaborators before restoring.

Choose the right recovery route

Trash preview
Resources / practice
Filelibrary-help-v1.docx
StateDeleted · preview before restoring
Before restoringConfirm this is the file you need

Fictional local simulation · nothing is sent or changed on your device

Knowledge check: a credible page

An AI answer makes a surprising claim about a service. Which action best checks it?

Knowledge check: read-only

A file is read-only. What does that tell you?

Lab: build a resource folder

Illustrative West Virginia scenario · fictional people and setting
SourceOrganization + evidence
FolderA name you can find
AccessThe right role + recovery

Do each worksheet task in its cycle. Save your file in the Community resources folder. Mark sharing and version history as simulated.

Open the activity worksheet

Your repeatable information routine

SourceOrganization + evidence
FolderA name you can find
AccessThe right role + recovery

Ask a clear question, check the source, save the evidence and limit access.

You completed this lesson

SourceOrganization + evidence
FolderA name you can find
AccessThe right role + recovery

Name one thing you can now do and one next practice step. Revisit any slide when you need it.

Continue to next week

Use arrow keys, Page Up / Page Down, Home / End outside a control. Swipe horizontally on touch screens. Press P to present on a projector and Esc to stop. Your slide position is saved in this browser.