How Can You Tell if What You are Reading Online is True?

There can be a lot of controversial information and conflicting opinions on the Internet. You may have even been taught to evaluate information so you are not falling for "fake news." Chances are, you're not going to be researching conspiracy theories or controversial issues while working as a Digital Ambassador. You'll primarily be asked for advice on how to find or do something online. Helping your participants understand that everything they read online should be scrutinized for accuracy and reliability is an important part of Digital Literacy.

The following videos should help you learn about evaluation resources. You will decide how you want to present this information to participants. The first video, Online Verification Skills- Video 2 may be one you would like to use with participants. It's short and explains the strategies for determining if the content is real and accurate or fake news. The second video by Crash Course, is one that you can watch for background information if you need to brush up on evaluating resources.

Online Verification Skills - Video 2: Investigate the Source
(2:44) Mike Caulfield from Washington State University for CTRL-F

A short video with quick tips for investigating the source of information you might find online using a search engine or Wikipedia. This is part of a series from Caulfield on related topics.

Evaluating Evidence: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #6
(13:20) Featuring John Greene from CrashCourse

Greene gives a comprehensive overview of navigating digital information by looking for and evaluating information. A little long, but the presenter is humorous and presents valuable information in an entertaining way.