Can the web be your students' best tool in the fight against falsehood?
From viral memes to so-called "fake news," the web is overflowing with information -- true, false, and everything in between. For many kids, this makes the web a challenging place to find credible and reliable sources. So what's the best way to help your students use the web effectively as a fact-checking tool? Here you'll find tips, resources, and practical advice on helping students find credible information online.
Fact-Checking Tips and Tools for Teachers and Students
Show students where to look for credible information on the web. Explain that professional fact-checkers may already have done this important work for us. Use the resources below as references for finding vetted and fact-checked information.
Help Students Fact-Check the Web Like the Pros
With so much information on the web -- true, false, and everything in between -- it’s no wonder students have a hard time separating fact from fiction.
Cheat Sheet: Turn Students into Fact-Finding Web Detectives
The web is overflowing with info — true, false, and everything in between — but...
Student Handout: Fearless Fact Finding
Looking for more news and media literacy resources? Check out our Turn Your Students Into Fact...
Poster: Deceptive Detective
Looking for more resources for news and media literacy? Return to our our News & Media...
Google Search Skills Every Student Should Know
Upgrade your students' Google game! Kids use Google every day, but do they really know how to use it effectively? Empower students with these tips and tricks to make their Google searches give them better -- and more factual -- results.
Google Search Tip: Search within a site
Here's a quick and simple way to introduce the concept of Google search commands.
Source: Google Help (via YouTube)
Help Your Students Become Better Google Searchers
Use these resources from Google to promote better search skills among your students.
Source: Google
Using Reverse Image Search as a Fact-Checking Tool
Google is great for fact-checking -- but only if you know how to use it! Help your students learn how a reverse image search works. Then, have them use this skill to verify -- or debunk -- the veracity of any image they find on the web.
Student Handout: Reverse Image Search
Looking for more resources for news and media literacy? Check out our Turn Your Students Into...
Resources to Address the So-Called "Fake News" Phenomenon
Make news literacy part of your web-literacy lessons. Help students understand the distinctions among news-literacy issues such as bias, credibility, satire, propaganda, and even intentionally false stories. The resources below are a good place to start.
Teaching Why Facts Still Matter
History teacher, David Cutler, looks at how reinforcing the importance of facts in our...
Source: Edutopia
Fake News: How A Partying Macedonian Teen Earns ...
This NBC News report offers students a window into how the so-called "fake news"...
Source: NBC News (via YouTube)
Evaluating Sources in a 'Post-Truth' World
This lesson plan from The New York Times helps students navigate the increasingly complex...
Source: The New York Times
Real News, Fake News or Opinion?
From KQED Education, a look at how teachers can help students discern the difference between...
Source: KQED Education
Further Reading and Research on Web and Media Literacy
Looking for a deeper dive into web literacy for students? Read what some of the foremost researchers, academics, and thought leaders have to say on the subject.
Why Students Can't Google Their Way to the Truth
Two Stanford researchers discuss their findings about students' difficulties in...
Source: EdWeek
The Challenge That's Bigger Than Fake News
See what Stanford researchers learned about how fact-checkers read the web differently ...
Source: Stanford History Education Group
eBook: Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers
Take a look for detailed tips and strategies to help your students better navigate the web ...
Source: Mike Caulfield
Why More Schools Aren't Teaching Web Literacy ...
How do we define 'literacy' in a Web-infused world? This article from Alan November...
Source: November Learning
Share These Ideas With Everyone in Your Network!
Concerned about what kids see as fact or fake when they're online? Be part of the conversation! Click "share" to post these images to your social media channels.
Fact-Finding Skills Students Can Use Anywhere Online
Today's media landscape is more complex than ever. Are your students prepared?...
Help Students Evaluate What They See and Read on the Web
The web is full of information -- true, false, and in-between. Do kids know what's what? Our...
More News- and Media-Literacy Resources from Common Sense
Beyond web literacy, here are some of the other media-literacy resources we offer, both here on Common Sense Education as well as on Common Sense Media, our site for parents and kids.
How to Spot Fake News (and Teach Kids to Be Media-Savvy)
From Common Sense Media's Parenting blog, advice on helping kids distinguish fact from...
Source: Common Sense Media
Educator Toolkit: News and Media Literacy
Give your students the skills they need to think critically about media in today's complex...
Source: Common Sense Education