Section 1.9
Evaluate Sources for Credibility
Learning Goals
Students will evaluate information and determine if a source is credible.
Objectives and General Description
This project requires online research about the innovation, its effects & impacts and the history of the problem & innovation. Students need to evaluate the credibility of information and resources. Many students go straight to the innovation's website and use promotional information. They need to evaluate whether is information is credible. These sites generally do a good job of explaining the intended purpose and function. However, does it address harmful effects or security flaws? Being able to select credible resources will give them high quality information for their research.
Activities
Activity 1.9.1 (Budget 25 minutes)
The website, Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, is widely used to help students learn to evaluate credible sources.
Lesson plans using the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus:
Have students brainstorm a list of evaluation criteria to determine if a site is credible.
Discuss the intention of a site, even if the site is legitimate. Is the promotional site of a product an impartial source of all information related to the product?
In addition to focusing on a single site, encourage the students to find a fact and then look for two other sources that can support that fact. Finding supporting evidence in multiple locations adds to the credibility of the information. There are many online resources for judging the credibility of a site. Here are a few:
Resources
1.9.1: Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus - PNTO (Teacher + Student Resource)
1.9.1: PNTO Lesson Plan Examples (Teacher Reference)
1.9.1: Evaluating Site Credibility (Teacher + Student Resource)