PLF Reflections

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Three Tips: Digital Literacy and Fact-Checking

With the vast amount of information available on the internet, it is more critical than ever that students are equipped with fact-checking skills. Educating students on stopping, analyzing, and verifying before sharing or believing information encourages critical thinking as well as digital accountability. The following are three ways you can integrate fact-checking strategies into classroom instruction.

Tip One: Use the SIFT Method.
Encourage students to pause and apply the SIFT method when encountering new information online:

• Stop and think before believing or passing on.

• Investigate the source—who is providing this information?

• Find better coverage—are multiple credible sources making the same claim?

• Trace claims back to the original context—has something been taken out of context or manipulated?

By following these steps, students develop a habit of questioning facts before accepting them as truth.

Resource: Visit this SIFT Canva poster that you can display in your classroom.

Tip Two: Reverse Image Search
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes, it tells the wrong story. Teach students how to conduct a reverse image search to verify whether an image has been altered or taken out of context. This simple skill can reveal when an old photo is being used to mislead or when AI-generated images are being passed off as real.

Resource: Google Lens is a great tool for reverse image searches. Here’s a quick tutorial on using them: Reverse Image Search - Google

Tip Three: Cross-Check With Multiple Sources
Encourage students to verify information across at least three different sources before accepting it as credible. If a claim only appears on one site, especially an unfamiliar or highly biased one, it’s a red flag. Reliable journalism follows standards of verification, so looking at reputable news outlets can help separate fact from fiction.

Resource: The website AllSides helps compare how different sources cover the same story, showing potential bias and perspective differences: AllSides Media Bias Chart

By integrating these strategies into your lessons, students will build the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly.

Two Resources to Support You!

One Celebration

We wanted to give a shoutout to our partnership with IDEA! EduMatch hosted a very successful karaoke event in conjunction with IDEAcon’s welcome social. If you know EduMatch you know how we love our karaoke, and the participation was amazing!