We know not to believe everything we hear, but what about what we see? Advancements in computer-generated graphics, facial recognition, and video production have led to a world of viral videos that are often difficult to identify as fake. Help your students learn to read what they see on the web "laterally" by showing them how to get off the page, check credibility, and find corroboration.
Key Standards Supported
Lesson Plan
Consider: Pig Rescues Baby Goat!
15 mins.Explore: From Vertical to Lateral Reading
20 mins.Apply: Hoax or Real?
15 mins.How concerned are you about deep fake videos as a misinformation threat? In this activity, you'll explore the issue, form your opinion, and create a short video explaining your position.
1. Do a bit of your own research on the issue. Here are some resources to get you started:
- Fake videos of real people - TED
- We tried to create a deepfake of Mark Zuckerberg and Alex Jones. - Poynter
2. Synthesize your thoughts, explaining three main points on why you think we should be really worried, or why you don't think it's too worrisome.
3. Create a short explainer video summarizing information you found and expressing your viewpoint. You can use iMovie, Binumi, or WeVideo, or check with your teacher for other multimedia creation tools we recommend.
4. If your teacher recommends, share your video with your classmates for feedback.