Objective
To develop the skills to critically evaluate online information.
Instructions
Have students read the following article:
Online Information: Fact or Fiction? [https://websitebuilders.com/evaluating-online-information/]
Discussion
- Why is it important to evaluate online information?
- What are some possible consequences of relying on false information from the internet?
- What are the standards for publishing on the Internet?
- What are some ways to decide if online information is reliable?
Activities
Visit websites such as the New York Times [http://www.nytimes.com/] and your local newspaper. Ask your students to apply the criteria discussed in the article to decide whether the published information is correct. Now visit the Drudge Report [http://www.drudgereport.com] and discuss the veracity of its information. Finally, visit the Borowitz Report [http://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report] to evaluate its content.
Discussion Guide
- Why is it important to evaluate online information?
Because anyone with a computer and Internet access can become an electronic publisher and disseminating information to a global audience, it’s important to evaluate the quality of the information to be sure it contains accurate and reliable information.
- What are some possible consequences of relying on false information from the internet?
Discuss with your students what specific consequences could result from believing false information found online. Examples could includes professional or personal embarrassment, legal troubles, personal injury, etc.
- What are the standards for publishing on the Internet?
There aren’t any universal standards for publishing on the internet. Newspapers, magazines and professional journals have a long tradition of journalistic standards to which they are held. Although many writers and publishers adhere to these standards when publishing on the Web, many don’t.
- What are some ways to decide if online information is reliable?
By evaluating the author, writing style, publisher, potential biases, references, and overall quality and recency of the information.
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