This module covers the basics of evaluating resources for authority, accuracy, and other criteria.
Video: What is Authority?
Use this video to introduce students to the concept of authority, how it relates to research, source selection, evaluation, and attribution.
Video: Introduction to Bias
This video introduces the idea of bias and prejudice and the importance of awareness of one’s own bias and the bias of others when evaluating sources and situations, and responding to arguments.
Video: Types of Bias
This video builds on the introduction to bias video by discussing specific types of bias such as social bias, confirmation bias, and communal reinforcement.
Quiz: Bias
This quiz corresponds with the video on bias.
Video: Evaluating Sources
Use this video to encourage students to think critically about the information they encounter in print and online. Students will become familiar with strategies for evaluating sources based on these criteria: authority, accuracy, currency, relevance, and objectivity.
Tutorial: Evaluating Information
Students will learn how to evaluate a range of resources in order to select the most authoritative sources on their research topic.
Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation
This video will help students identify the characteristics and purpose of misinformation as well as its effect on their personal and academic lives.
Quiz: Misinformation
This quiz tests students on concepts covered in "Video Tutorial: Understanding Misinformation"
Tutorial: Evaluating Sources for Diverse Points of View
Use this tutorial to introduce students to the practice of differentiating between dominant theories and perspectives that are underrepresented in scholarly and everyday sources. The goal of the lesson is to encourage students to seek out multiple relevant and credible perspectives in order to develop a nuanced understanding of the issues that are important to them.
Tutorial: Evaluating Digital Sources Using Lateral Reading
This tutorial will introduce students to the practice of lateral reading. Students will learn how to evaluate online materials by digging deeper into the origins and motives behind sites. Students will also have the opportunity to practice lateral reading on their own through a guided activity.
Tutorial: News Reporting vs. Opinion Pieces in Journalism
This tutorial will help students differentiate between news journalism and opinion journalism in order to analyze the purpose, standards, and expectations related to reporting and editorializing.
Video Tutorial: Fact-Checking
In this tutorial, students will get an overview of the purpose of fact-checking as well as professional strategies to apply to their own interactions with scholarly and everyday sources of information. Included video introduces students to the practice of fact-checking and the related concept of accuracy in reporting.
