Fact Checking Literacy on the Web

Fact checking?? We hear this term daily as we watch tv and hear politicians talk….

BUT ON THE WEB?!

I’m not sure why I’ve never thought about this before…

Your reading material on the web should be fact checked the same as when you hear or read materials from the media. According to Chapter 1 in Press Books, “the web is both the largest propaganda machine ever created and the most amazing fact-checking tool ever invented. But if we haven’t taught our students those fact-checking capabilities, is it any surprise that propaganda is winning?”

I wonder how many young people realize that there is so much propaganda out there and that there is a way to fact check.

There are 4 “MOVES” illustrated as follows in the book:

• Check for previous work: Look around to see if someone else has already fact-checked the claim or provided a synthesis of research.
• Go upstream to the source: Go “upstream” to the source of the claim. Most web content is not original. Get to the original source to understand the trustworthiness of the information.
• Read laterally: Read laterally.^[1] Once you get to the source of a claim, read what other people say about the source (publication, author, etc.). The truth is in the network.
• Circle back: If you get lost, hit dead ends, or find yourself going down an increasingly confusing rabbit hole, back up and start over knowing what you know now. You’re likely to take a more informed path with different search terms and better decisions.

Checking domain endings for example whether a site ends in .com, .org, or .edu could be beneficial to know as you surf for reliable sources of information.

.com = commercial sites (not usually the most reliable)

.edu = educational sites (college students, professors)

.gov = government sites (reports/laws/research)

.org = organizations (usually have a personal mission and could be bias)

So how do I find a credible site?

Let’s take a look at the ABC’s of Credible Sites:

According to Keith Letwich Memorial Library of OCCC you should always:

Check AUTHORITY…look for the author’s credentials and find their mission to determine accuracy and bias

Check BIASES…check advertisements and be aware they may be trying to sell you a product

Check DOCUMENTATION…look for sources cited and where the information is coming from on a site

These are the ABC’s of researching whether a site is credible or not. It’s definitely worth a watch on you tube to verify your sources.

As an avid internet surfer and gatherer or information on the web, I’ve never contemplated sources and what is absolute truth. This may be because I usually use the web for vacation planning and local information, however, bringing this topic to the forefront of our minds is very helpful for future reference.

Final thoughts…

Wow..the past 7 weeks really went by quickly…we have deliberated and considered the pros and cons of many topics in this blog. Blogging has allowed me the opportunity to have a voice within the web community while forcing my creative side as a writer.

I have learned quite a bit on various topics that pertain to web accessibility, writing for the web, along with how to create and use a multitude of tools to design more engaging lessons in the classroom.

Designing a website has opened my eyes to the need for web accessibility and the importance of it on a daily basis. I have discussed over the past 7 weeks the knowledge I have on making “life” accessible for those with disabilities. This course has certainly opened my eyes to a whole new “web” world to explore and research for those with disabilities, and of course for my very own son. I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken Web Page Technologies, because it has empowered me to use my voice to continue to advocate on this very important topic.

The web is a powerful place. I enjoyed communicating and blogging through the digital world. It amazed me that people really do read what you write as random readers liked my page and began to follow me on my journey. I will certainly use the knowledge and skills learned over the past 7 weeks to continue to apply it to my new position as the Library Media Specialist.

“Even if we are apart, I’ll always be with you” stated best by Winnie the Pooh

This is the beginning of a whole new digital world….it’s never goodbye….it’s until next time……