Start with the big picture | Finding information fast

A topic you know nothing about

On your first day, your manager asks you to find out what role technology plays in healthcare. Where do you start? This course shows you a quick, reliable way to find information.

Three steps to a first understanding

Before you go deep, get the big picture.

1SearchSearch engines and public reference sites
2InterpretPick out the key points and check each source
3UnderstandThe main building blocks and the key words

Search well

A few smart searches give you the basics in under an hour.

Combine the topic with the sector, for example "digital health" UAE
Put an exact phrase in quotes
Search in English and in Arabic
Note the key words you find, and search again with them

Can you trust this source?

Tap each card to open it.

1Who wrote it?

A government body, a known research firm or a university weighs more than an anonymous page.

2When?

Check the date. Markets change fast, so old figures can mislead.

3Why?

Is it selling something? A sales brochure is not neutral.

4Can you confirm it?

Find the same fact in a second, independent source. Use open wikis as a starting point only.

Quick check

You found a key figure on an open wiki page. What do you do?

Show the answer

Find the original source and check it. Wikis are a good start, but anyone can edit them. Follow the reference to the original source before you use the figure.

Trust it, or check it first?

Which box does this belong in? Tap the box.

Item 1 of 5Official statistics from a government body

Official statistics from a government body
A recent university study

An anonymous blog post
A company's sales brochure
An open wiki page

What to remember

Get the big picture before you go deep
Search smart, in English and Arabic
Check who, when, why, and confirm with a second source