Fact-Checking for Beginners
In this one-time class students will learn how to fact-check digital sources, as well as begin to understand and identify bias.
Céilidhe Waugh
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(1)
What's included
1 live meeting
1 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursClass Experience
In this class, students will learn a step-by-step approach to fact-checking. The skills they acquire are highly transferrable, and quite essential for navigating the world of digital media. Students will learn how to effectively use popular online resources such as Wikipedia and Snopes to fact-check information found in digital and print media. Students should be familiar with the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma as we will be referring to its discussion of algorithms and the role they play in feeding confirmation bias. The class will begin with some lecture-style front-loading of important information, but the majority of class-time will be spent doing hands-on activities to test out fact-checking techniques and strengthen skills.
Learning Goals
Students will learn the following:
-how to use SIFT to analyze digital sources
-how to use RAVEN and PAARC to analyze print sources
-the definition of bias
-the extent to which bias impacts our understanding of the world around us
-the definition of confirmation bias and the ways in which algorithms feed our biases
-how to use Wikipedia as a tool for finding reliable sources of information
-how to use Snopes to debunk false information
-how to use reverse image search to find the original source of digital images
-how to use the Wayback Machine to trace changes made to digital sources
-how to identify bias in sources
-tools to determine the reliability of digital and print sources
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Students are free to pursue topics of their own choosing in this class whenever possible, they are also encouraged to find their own sources as much as possible. Their particular areas of interest will determine some of the material that they encounter in this class. I always remind my students that anything they bring to class should be suitable for an academic environment, and I encourage them to consider their classmates' well-being at all times.
Supply List
All information and links to sources will be provided during class. Students will also receive a copy of the all Google Slides presentations.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
Students will be using Wikipedia, Snopes, Google Reverse Image Search, and the Wayback Machine to fact-check information found using Google Search and Google Scholar. We will be looking at some materials from EnergyLeaders.ca for the purpose of identifying bias and the role it can play in information sharing.
Joined March, 2022
5.0
1reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
I am an experienced research teacher at the secondary level. Reviews
Live One-Time Class
$10
per classMeets once
90 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-17
6-8 learners per class
