Knowledge: Books or Online?

Books are becoming obsolete and outdated by online information. When I was in college I rely on Books because of the author or writers credibility. Even research and thesis heavily rely on contents found in books. However, we are well aware that not everyone can easily distinguish false information from right.

While I was discussing practical research to my class I noticed that students are getting online information regarding methods in data gathering. They were able to study online but they are getting different information, online content does not have standard content.

Online content may be credible enough if you know the information you're reading is correct. If only books are free and the content you're trying to find can easily be found maybe I'll still use it. Books are credible enough since the authors were paid to write his/her own book and impart knowledge based on her/his specialty. However, there is a disadvantage for this, books can supply more content after 2-5 years new editions are released and you have to buy new edition and you should not use old editions as reference.

Listed below are instruction on how to determine if online content is credible : (note: below are guidelines taken from the website: http://www.whoishostingthis.com/resources/credible-sources/)

1. Start with sites you know.
   There may be better information out there, but starting with a company you already trust is a good way to narrow your search. Then if you do decide to look up information from other sources, you can compare it to what you found first.

2. Check the date:
   Another good indication that an article may be outdated is broken or “dead links.” Many website articles include links that visitors can click on for more information (like those at the bottom of this page). If those links don’t go anywhere, chances are the article is old.

3. Check Credentials:
   One of the best ways to evaluate an article or other content published online is to check the author’s credentials. If you’re looking for information about toothaches, a certified dentist who has been practicing for over 20 years is a more reliable source than a hobbyist with a blog. If the author provides a list of references to validate his or her credentials, even better.

4. Check the TLD and Domain
   Make sure to start with those trusted sources, and then look for any potential bias. Businesses often use .com for their sites, and in most cases those sites are created to help them sell a product or service. Therefore, any information on their website is liable to have a bias toward getting a visitor to buy whatever it is that's for sale there. If you’re looking for an honest comparison between iOS and Android, you should assume that anything you find on Apple.com is going to have a major bias toward the former.

This guidelines may help you find sources that are credible but only you can decide whether to use books or online content. I want to use books in my lessons, how about you?