It’s been a long time since I was in school, measured both in years and technological advances. So maybe what I’m proposing is actually being done in some schools! But either way, here’s an exercise I’d give students frequently:
I’d ask a question about history, current events, or something similar. I’d then tell the students to use whatever technology they want to find out the answer and report back. Sometimes they could work in teams, other times alone. Sometimes I’d directly supervise, and other times I’d give them complete autonomy. When they reported back, they’d be graded on accuracy and completeness of the answers, with bonus points for demonstrating real understanding.
The goal should always be to promote critical use of research tools. It will absolutely never matter whether or not you have the state capitols memorized. What will matter is whether or not you can find information when you need it, and whether you can determine what information is accurate from amid the noise.
The Opportunity Machine 