Students investigate and evaluate whether facts, in the form of statements or data, are correct by searching online.
This method trains students to critically assess and validate information.
Explain to the students the importance of verifying facts to avoid misinformation. Discuss relevant criteria such as credibility, sources, and date of last update.
Provide the facts that need to be verified, or have the students start finding and selecting relevant facts themselves.
The students use the internet to confirm or refute each fact. They assess the reliability of the sources. If possible, they find multiple sources and compare the results to cross-check the information.
The students record their findings in their fact-checking worksheet and add links to the sources they used. They also write down why they consider each source to be trustworthy or not.
Didactic tips
- Students can also examine different types of sources (e.g., blogs, scientific articles, news media) to compare how facts are presented differently.
- They can optionally use colors or symbols to mark reliable and less reliable sources in their documentation.
- As a conclusion, students can discuss what they have learned about source criticism and the importance of fact-checking.