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Teaching news literacy

Identifying misinformation and conspiracy theories

Misinformation is the greatest threat to democracy — and the primary focus of National News Literacy Week 2022. By teaching a deeper understanding of misinformation, including conspiratorial thinking, you can help students become less susceptible to it and more likely to prioritize reliable, verified sources of news and information. Here are some tools and resources to help target additional skills.

"Misinformation"

CHECKOLOGY LESSON

"Conspiratorial Thinking"

CHECKOLOGY LESSON

Identifying primary purpose

Not all information is created equal. By discovering primary purposes of information, students can develop the habit of questioning the purpose of all the information they encounter.

"InfoZones"
Checkology lesson "Six zones of information"
Classroom poster

Understanding news media bias

Bias is one of the most controversial and important subjects in news literacy. Understanding bias can help students fully assess the degree of impartiality in a given news story.

"Understanding Bias"
Checkology lesson "Story explorers: Evaluate news coverage"
Classroom activity

Evaluating evidence and sources

Learning to properly evaluate sources for signs of credibility can help students know what to trust and make reasoned arguments based on facts and evidence—an important part of civic discourse.

"Can you search like a pro?"
Checkology check center mission "Fact-check it!"
Classroom activity

Digital verification skills, including advanced search

Being a digitally savvy citizen means being able to assess the authenticity and origins of sources and claims. You can help students develop these skills, including advanced search, lateral reading and geolocation.

"Arguments & evidence"
Checkology lesson "Is it legit? Five steps for vetting a news source"
Infographic

Understanding the First Amendment and the free press

By focusing on First Amendment protections in action, students can gain a deeper, more personal understanding of the First Amendment’s value to citizens and of their own First Amendment rights.

"The First Amendment"
Checkology lesson "So, what's the First Amendment"
Checkology lesson

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