Guofang Wan is the author of “Virtually True: Questioning Online Media” and “TV Takeover: Questioning Television.” Both books are part of the Media Literacy Set, a six-book series designed to teach elementary students to question the media and develop media savvy.

“These books are not about media bashing,” Wan said. “These books are designed to teach children how to be critical about what they read on the Internet and watch on TV. They are written in a child’s language, in a way that doesn’t lecture them. While the books are written for elementary kids, really what they teach is applicable to everybody.”

Children in today’s generation are more apt to turn to the Internet as an information resource, Wan said.

“Kids aren’t as likely to go to the library when they need information,” Wan said. “If they want information, they Google it. We need to teach them reliable resources, ways they can find valid resources on the Internet.”

Not everything on the Internet is gold, but with a little bit of knowledge, it’s possible to tell whether information found on the Web is fool’s gold, Wan said. Anyone can create a Web site, and not all Web sites contain accurate or up-to-date information. Wan’s books teach kids to first check the date the information was posted and whether it has been updated. Her book on the Internet also teaches children to question who created the Internet site, what their message is and what their motivations are. It’s also important to look at the grammar and spelling on the Web site, as poor language use can indicate a less trustworthy site. When it comes to the Internet, it also helps to get a second, third or fourth opinion.

“My book encourages children to try several resources,” Wan said. “There are fake Web sites, and others that are not always accurate. It’s good to check the information with other resources to see if the information is the same and accurate.”

Wan also teaches kids to rely on more official databases like the Encyclopedia Britannica for specific information.

Wan also teaches children safety tips on Internet use in her book. She encourages kids not to give out real names, addresses or phone numbers. She also instructs children to only communicate with people they already know, and to report any communications that seem unusual or strange to their parents.

“Parents teach kids not to talk to strangers on the street, but with the Internet, it can be easy to invite strangers into your home,” Wan said. “If something concerns them, they should tell someone about it.”

Wan’s book also teaches about Internet addiction, which is becoming more of a problem in this digital age. In South Korea, there are several rehabilitation camps designed to curb addictive Internet use.

“Children are spending more and more time on the computer, and it’s easy to get addicted,” Wan said. “A lot of people are beginning to have issues of addiction when it comes to the computer.”

While the Internet presents its own set of concerns, it can also be a helpful informational tool, Wan said.

“The Internet and technology change the way we live and learn,” Wan said. “It’s a new world that parents and teachers didn’t grow up with. But there’s a lot of good on the Internet, and it can be very helpful. Technology can make such a huge difference, and we use it in our lives every day. We just need to teach children to be critical media users.”

mgallagher@athensmessenger.com