The Problem: When evidence is attractively presented, convincingly stated, or aligns with …
The Problem: When evidence is attractively presented, convincingly stated, or aligns with our beliefs, it can be tempting to accept it without stopping to ask whether the evidence comes from a trustworthy source or directly supports the claims being made. When evidence takes the form of statistics or infographics, it can be particularly tempting to accept it without fully evaluating it. This lesson gives students a chance to practice evaluating evidence based on its reliability and relevance. Students work in groups to evaluate several examples of online evidence and engage in class discussions about the strength of the evidence.
Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.
The Problem: Claims and evidence flow rapidly online. We aid in the …
The Problem: Claims and evidence flow rapidly online. We aid in the spread of misinformation if we don’t ensure that a claim or evidence is accurate before we share it. Luckily, the internet also allows us to check claims and evidence by consulting other sources. Although verification takes time, it helps to ensure that the information we read, use, and share is trustworthy.
This short lesson will introduce students to the importance of checking what other sources say through a relatively straightforward example. Students practice evaluating a claim made on social media by clicking on the provided link to see if the argument in that source matches the claim in the post.
Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.
The Problem: Wikipedia contains a vast supply of information and is the …
The Problem: Wikipedia contains a vast supply of information and is the 5th most trafficked website in the world. Still, many teachers advise students against using it. If students learn to use Wikipedia wisely, it can be a powerful resource for lateral reading, verifying claims, and a starting point for research.
This lesson introduces students to Wikipedia’s standard of verifiability, which requires article authors to provide reliable citations to support claims they make. By following these citations, students can verify the claims in Wikipedia and locate a variety of reliable resources. Students practice verifying claims on Wikipedia by following its citations.
Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.
The Problem: Online videos are easy to create and distribute. Evidence presented …
The Problem: Online videos are easy to create and distribute. Evidence presented via video is becoming an increasingly popular way to support claims online. However, videos can be especially challenging to evaluate effectively. Too often, we are convinced by what we see (or think we see) and do not carefully consider how the video could misrepresent its subject.
This short lesson helps students practice analyzing video evidence. Students complete a task that asks them to evaluate a video that makes a claim and supports it with selectively edited video evidence. They then read and discuss an article about the video. Then they watch an unedited version of the video to practice skills for analyzing video evidence.
Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.
The Problem: Photographs and other images circulate rapidly online and are often …
The Problem: Photographs and other images circulate rapidly online and are often persuasive forms of evidence. It can be difficult to determine the accuracy of these images and it is often tempting to take these images at face value. If we trust images without verification, we risk believing false claims and narratives.
This short lesson will introduce students to a strategy for learning more about online images: the reverse image search. Students can use this tool to learn more about an image, including where it has been posted online and what (if any) stories have been written about it. Students practice this strategy in groups.
Note: Civic Online Reasoning is motivated by three driving questions: Who's behind the information, What's the evidence and What do other sources say? This lesson is an introduction to one of the main concepts. Registration is required and free.
Students will read an article online about the first four presidents. The …
Students will read an article online about the first four presidents. The online article provides scaffolds for vocabulary and reading. Students can use the online quiz to check for understanding. Students will then perform a close reading of the article following six text dependent questions. The lesson describes the activities along with the language to use for each of the questions.
Students will use the Hopscotch or Tynker App (either on an iPad …
Students will use the Hopscotch or Tynker App (either on an iPad or web-based) to create their own video game. This project is designed for grades 6-8 but could be adopted to other grades. The project is intended for use after students complete the 20 hour course on introduction to coding on Code.org (https://studio.code.org/s/20-hour)
The student will learn through modules that can be completed on your …
The student will learn through modules that can be completed on your own time, learn about basic programming + good CS pedagogy. Topics include debugging methods, assessing student learning, modifying lessons to students' needs, and much, much more!
This Fair Use Checklist is helpful tool for determining whether activities are …
This Fair Use Checklist is helpful tool for determining whether activities are within the limits of fair use. This helpful tool created by Columbia University is applicable for teachers, students, and school librarians.
The PDF download is found on the bottom of the page.
Students identify the main events that take place in a classic children's …
Students identify the main events that take place in a classic children's picture book. Students will then compare and contrast the book to the film using specific events from both. Students will analyze the choices the director makes in recreating the events from the book. Lastly, students will write a movie review based on the analysis of the events.
This resource includes a link to Creative Commons video, "Get Creative," and …
This resource includes a link to Creative Commons video, "Get Creative," and video viewing worksheet. The mini-lesson can be used to enhance a lesson segment on Copyright and Fair Use.
From the Scratch Wiki: "Scratch contains the resources available for creating a …
From the Scratch Wiki: "Scratch contains the resources available for creating a question/answer system. This system can be used for one to be 'quizzed', or to repetitively answer automated questions. This tutorial shows various methods on how to create a question system. For each method, the ask () and wait block is used to ask questions and input answers."
Use these blocks to teach students to create a quiz for many different concepts and disciplines.
Developed as a companion edition to our Building Democracy for All eBook …
Developed as a companion edition to our Building Democracy for All eBook (2020), Critical Media Literacy and Civic Learning (2021) features more than 50 interactive media literacy learning activities for students organized around key topics in civics, government, and history education derived from the Massachusetts 8th Grade Civics and Government curriculum framework (from author introduction).
Words from "A Letter from the Dig Cit Doctors": Our intention with …
Words from "A Letter from the Dig Cit Doctors":
Our intention with this framework is to show how a myriad of skills and concepts such as screen time, digital privacy, and media and information literacy all fit together under the umbrella of digital citizenship, and how these skills can empower students as participatory citizens in our ever-increasingly digital world.
We present this framework to all educators free of charge through a Creative Commons License. Our greatest hope is that it will help you and your education colleagues take the next step in providing a robust and authentic digital citizenship education to all students. Fondly, The Dig Cit Doctors Kristen Mattson LeeAnn Lindsey
This digital citizenship poster project includes a PDF document with specifications and …
This digital citizenship poster project includes a PDF document with specifications and a grading rubric. This project was created as a final assessment following completion of Common Sense Education's Digital Citizenship units for Grade 6.
Mount Horeb Area School District Library Media Specialists created a long-range plan …
Mount Horeb Area School District Library Media Specialists created a long-range plan based on the Future Ready Schools Framework. The Board of Education reviewed and approved this plan on January 3, 2021.
Dr. Krashen, professor emiritus from the University of Southern California, is a …
Dr. Krashen, professor emiritus from the University of Southern California, is a linquist specialist who strongly supports school libraries. He explains the intention of this paper as, "My goal in this paper is to suggest another approach that is consistent with theory and research: self-selected pleasure reading in English. Libraries and teacher librarians play a central role in carrying out this suggestion."
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