Civic Online Reasoning: Evaluating Information and Fact-Checking

In an era of non-stop digital noise, distinguishing credible sources from misinformation is a vital skill for every citizen, student, and educator. This course equips you with the foundational principles of civic online reasoning, giving you the practical tools to evaluate claims, analyze digital sources, and confidently navigate the modern internet. What you'll learn: - Understand the core concepts of media literacy, cognitive bias, and how information spreads online. - Master the lateral reading technique used by professional fact-checkers to verify unfamiliar websites. - Evaluate the credibility of social media claims, news articles, and digital publications using structured inquiry. - Identify synthetic media, deepfakes, and AI-generated content using modern verification strategies. - Analyze how search engines and algorithmic feeds shape the information you see. - Apply these critical thinking frameworks to design effective learning experiences for students or peers. You will start with fundamental definitions of digital literacy before progressing to step-by-step written evaluation exercises, lateral reading practices, and modern verification techniques. This beginner-friendly program is designed for educators, librarians, students, and anyone looking to improve their digital literacy skills, with no prior technical knowledge required. Start reading today to become a more critical consumer and teacher of online information.