The American Library Association defines information literacy as "possessing the set of skills to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."
If your mother says she loves you, check it out - old newspaper saying
Below there are several tips and suggestions for being a savvy consumer of information - whether it comes from social media, news sites, or a text from your friend. Many of the resources on this page come from an article by librarian Joyce Valenza, an Assistant Professor of Teaching at Rutgers University School of Information and Communication.
Who says? - Click on the 'About Us' or 'About Me' section of a website to evaluate the site's credentials and possible biases.
Check sources - Click links - try to find the original study or news article being referred to and make sure it actually says what your source claims.
Look for multiple sources - While every news organization is looking for a 'scoop,' if no one else is reporting something, it may be cause for a deeper look.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is - Trust your instincts. Inflated headlines and outrageous claims all deserve a closer look. Be cautious of absolutes like 'always' or 'never' - things are rarely that clear-cut.
Beware of cherry-picking - Just because a source is presenting accurate information it doesn't mean it's presenting all the information. Look out for sites that only present facts favorable to their position.
Pictures can lie - Images and video can be manipulated. Use the same criteria to evaluate images that you would to check words. Even if an image hasn't been manipulated, it may be not be accurately described.
Is this an ad? - Fake news sites and content farms often create outrageous headlines hoping for clicks, which earn them money through advertising.
Check the Web address - Look for unusual domain names. Fake news sites often try to mimic a real news organization but change the .com to .co, or get the name slightly wrong.
Contemporary information quality experts have deprecated the CRAAP test in favor of four-step processes: SIFT others) where experts do the evaluating.
Adapted from the Meriam Library, California State University, Chico and the Michigan Library Association CRAAP Test Worksheet
There are online lessons students can use (and teachers can assign) for learning digital media literacy. Many of these are available from Mr. M's site, Fake News Fitness.
Research and Citation Resources - Purdue OWL
What Are Databases and Why You Need Them
Crash Course Navigating Digital Information Preview
Introduction to Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #1
The Facts about Fact Checking: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #2
Check Yourself with Lateral Reading: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #3
Who Can You Trust? Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #4
Using Wikipedia: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #5
Evaluating Evidence: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #6
Evaluating Photos & Videos: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #7
Data & Infographics: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #8
Click Restraint: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #9
Social Media: Crash Course Navigating Digital Information #10