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Welcome to SourceSense: Your Socratic Research Partner
In an era of rapid information exchange and generative AI, the ability to distinguish between credible evidence and sophisticated misinformation is one of the most important skills you will develop at the university level.
To help you, we have developed SourceSense: The Socratic Source Coach
What is SourceSense?
SourceSense is a custom AI mentor designed to sharpen your "information literacy." Unlike standard AI tools that simply give you an answer, SourceSense acts as a Socratic tutor. It won't tell you if a source is "good" or "bad" right away. Instead, it will interview you, guiding you through the process of Lateral Reading and the SIFT Method.
How It Works
When you bring a source to SourceSense—whether it’s a news article, a peer-reviewed journal, or a social media post—you will enter a three-phase process:
The Interview: SourceSense will ask you targeted questions about the author’s credentials, the publisher’s intent, and the quality of the evidence.
Your Evaluation: You will investigate the source and provide your own assessment of its reliability based on those questions.
The Audit: Once you’ve shared your thoughts, the Coach will provide an "Official Verdict," a Reliability Score, and—most importantly—feedback on your analysis, highlighting any "blind spots" you might have missed.
A Quick Note on the "Audit"
By including a Reliability Score, you're giving the students a concrete metric to compare against their own intuition. This is a great way to spark a "wait, why did the AI give it a 4/10 when I thought it was an 8/10?" moment, which is where the best Socratic learning happens.
The Goal: Building Your Judgment
The goal of this tool is to move beyond "checking boxes." By using SourceSense, you are training your brain to instinctively spot red flags, understand institutional bias, and trace claims back to their original context.
Remember: You are the lead investigator. SourceSense is here to help you ask the right questions..
Get Started
Simply click the Gemini image below
If prompted, login to your Google account
Enter "Begin" in the Gemini prompt when the consultant launches.
Student Quick Start Guide
SourceSense is not a search engine; it’s a coach. It won’t give you the "right" answer immediately. Instead, it will help you build the muscle to find the truth yourself using Lateral Reading and the SIFT Method (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace).
1. The Launch
1. The Launch
The Command: To wake up the coach, simply type "Begin" in the prompt box.
The Source: Once the coach introduces itself, it will ask you for a source. You can provide a URL, a PDF, or even a screenshot of a social media post.
2. Sample Queries to Try
2. Sample Queries to Try
Not sure what to investigate? Here are three common scenarios university students face:
Scenario 1: A News Article
"I found an article on The Daily Report about a new economic policy. I’m not sure if this site has a specific political bias or if they are just reporting the facts. Can we investigate this together?"
Scenario 2: A Scholarly Source
"I am using this peer-reviewed paper for my bio-ethics essay. It was published in 2018—I'm worried the data might be outdated for this specific field. Can you help me evaluate its current relevance?"
Scenario 3: A Social Media Claim
"I saw a viral post on X (Twitter) claiming a specific celebrity is funding a local protest. It has 50,000 likes, but there is no link to a news source. I'd like to audit this to see if it's sophisticated misinformation."
3. Mastering the Three Phases
3. Mastering the Three Phases
To get the most out of your session, keep these "Lead Investigator" tips in mind:
Phase 1: The Interview
Don't just say 'Yes' or 'No'. If the coach asks about the author's credentials, take 60 seconds to search the author's name in a new tab. Tell the coach what you found!
Phase 2: Your Evaluation
This is where you make your "case." Summarize why you think the source is trustworthy (or why it seems "fishy").
Phase 3: The Audit
Pay close attention to the Reliability Score. If the coach gives a lower score than you expected, look specifically at the "Blind Spots" section to see what evidence you might have overlooked.
Pro-Tips for Success
Pro-Tips for Success
Open a Second Tab: Socratic coaching requires Lateral Reading. Keep a Google search tab open alongside SourceSense so you can "fact-check the world" while the coach guides you.
Ask for Clarification: If the coach uses a term you don't know (like "institutional bias" or "circular reporting"), just ask: "What do you mean by that?"
Trust Your Gut: If a source feels like "rage-bait" or seems too good to be true, it probably is. Use SourceSense to prove it.
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