Embedded Files
Two Vital Digital Literacy Competencies
Two Vital Digital Literacy Competencies
Introduction
Introduction
Every day, we are all bombarded with information. Is it accurate? Misleading? Could it be just plain wrong? YES, yes it can be!
Let's learn how to search smarter, evaluate critically, and use the right tools so you can cut through the noise and find information you can actually trust.
Your Brain Can Mislead You!
Your Brain Can Mislead You!
Before we start searching, you need to be aware that your brain can't always be trusted. We all naturally notice and remember information that confirms what we already believe, and we are wired to ignore or doubt information that doesn’t. This is called confirmation bias, and it’s why even good search results or credible sources can feel “wrong” if they clash with your opinions.
To make things worse, you are probably in a digital bubble, an “echo chamber,” showing you only content that reinforces your views.
Once you understand this, you’ll see why it’s so important to question what you find online, check multiple sources, and think critically.
That's what this page is all about!
Self-Reflection Activities
Self-Reflection Activities
Are you in a Digital Bubble? Take the FilterBubble Quiz
Can you tell fact from fiction? Take the Break the Fake Quiz
Can you tell fact from opinion? Take the Fact vs. Opinion Quiz
Searching Smarter Online
Searching Smarter Online
Most people start with Google when looking for information online. But Google is more powerful than you might think! Understanding how search works and how to evaluate results is essential for digital literacy.
Search Strategies
Search Strategies
Keywords vs. Natural Language Questions:
Do you type concise keywords or full questions? Each has its advantages depending on what you’re looking for.
Tips for Better Searching: Use quotes for exact phrases, the minus sign to exclude terms, or search a specific website. Explore Google Search Tips
Be Aware
Be Aware
No one edits all content online—anyone can post information.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a business—sites pay to appear higher in results.
Paid results are prevalent, and search results are personalized based on your data and activity.
Always check multiple sources to verify information.
How Search Works
How Search Works
Advanced Search Tools
Advanced Search Tools
Google has powerful, specialized tools:
Google Scholar: Search for scholarly articles, books, and court opinions.
Google News: Search, discover, and read news from across the web,
Google Books: Search the most comprehensive index of full-text books.
Google Patents: Search the full text of patents from around the world.
Search Trends: See what other people are searching for.
Search Datasets: discover datasets hosted in thousands of repositories across the Web.
Instead of searching everything broadly, using specialized search tools and techniques will usually give you more accurate and relevant results, especially when you know what you’re looking for!
Google Search Cheat Sheet
Google Search Cheat Sheet
Exact Match
Exact Match
Operator: " "
Use: Find an exact phrase.
Example: "digital literacy" → Only pages with that exact phrase.
Exclude Words
Exclude Words
Operator: -
Use: Remove results containing a specific word.
Example: apple -fruit → Pages about Apple the company, not the fruit.
Limit to a Site or Domain
Limit to a Site or Domain
Operator: site:
Use: Search only within a specific website or domain.
Example: site:edu cybersecurity → Only results from .edu websites.
Wildcard
Wildcard
Operator: *
Use: Fill in unknown words in a phrase.
Example: "best * of 2025" → Finds pages with “best [something] of 2025.”
In Title
In Title
Operator: intitle:
Use: Search for pages with a word in the title.
Example: intitle:AI tools → Pages with “AI tools” in the title.
File Type
File Type
Operator: filetype:
Use: Find specific file types.
Example: cybersecurity filetype:pdf → Only PDFs.
Similar Sites
Similar Sites
Operator: related:
Use: Discover websites similar to a given URL.
Example: related:bbc.com → Sites similar to BBC.
Define a Term
Define a Term
Operator: define:
Use: Get the definition of a word or phrase.
Example: define:algorithm → Shows the definition.
Google Cache
Google Cache
Operator: cache:
Use: See Google’s stored version of a page.
Example: cache:example.com → View cached page.
Limit to a Site or Domain
Limit to a Site or Domain
Operator: site:
Use: Search only within a specific website or domain.
Example: site:edu cybersecurity → Only results from .edu websites.
These can all be combined, too! Click here to learn more Google search tips.
Libraries Still Matter!
Libraries Still Matter!
Yes, that is bolded for a reason! Libraries and librarians remain essential for quality information:
Digitize and preserve influential primary sources.
Increase online access to scholarly information, including open-access academic research.
Protect your privacy—no tracking or targeted ads.
Support freedom of information and fight censorship.
Get around paywalls!
Guide you to precise, reliable resources.
Take advantage of your local librarian. Their job is to find information, and they get PAID to help you! Click here to chat with a CCBC librarian!
Digital Media Literacy
Digital Media Literacy
Develop skills to evaluate all types of media critically: Read through the GFCGlobal Digital Media Literacy Tutorial
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse