Module 6: Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking

Learn how to find good information and think carefully about what you see online.

Easy Level: Finding Good Information

Welcome to the Easy Level! Let's learn how to find good information online:

How to search for information
What makes a website trustworthy
Why not all information online is true
How to use kid-friendly resources
When to double-check what you find

Before You Start

This level has 5 questions to help you learn about finding good information online.

Learn how to search effectively
Understand how to tell if information is trustworthy
Find out about kid-friendly resources
Discover why it's important to check multiple sources

Beginner Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. What are good search words to use when looking for information?

Just one word about your topic

Specific words about your topic plus "for kids" or "children"

Random words that sound fun

Correct Answer

Use specific words about your topic plus "for kids" or "children" to find age-appropriate information.

Key Points:

The more specific your search words, the better results you'll get
Adding "for kids" helps find information written for children
Try different search words if you don't find what you need the first time

2. How can you tell if a website has trustworthy information?

It has lots of flashing images and games

It's the first result in your search

It's from a school, museum, library, or known educational source

Correct Answer

Websites from schools, museums, libraries, or known educational sources usually have trustworthy information.

Key Points:

Look for websites that end with .edu (education), .gov (government), or .org (organization)
Websites made by experts on the topic are more likely to have correct information
Kid-friendly sites like National Geographic Kids or NASA Kids' Club have reliable information

3. Why isn't all information on the internet true?

Because computers sometimes make mistakes

Because anyone can put information online, even if it's wrong

Because the internet is too old

Correct Answer

Not all information online is true because anyone can put information on the internet, even if it's wrong.

Key Points:

Unlike books in your school library, internet content isn't always checked for accuracy
Some people share false information by mistake, while others do it on purpose
That's why it's important to check information using multiple trusted sources

4. What are some good resources for kids to find information?

Only social media sites

Any website with pictures

Kid-friendly search engines, online encyclopedias, and educational websites

Correct Answer

Kid-friendly search engines, online encyclopedias, and educational websites are good resources for children.

Key Points:

Kid-friendly search engines like Kiddle or KidzSearch filter out inappropriate content
Websites like Britannica Kids or World Book Kids have accurate information written for children
Educational websites from museums, zoos, and science centers are also great resources

5. Why is it important to check more than one source of information?

To make your homework longer

To make sure the information is correct by seeing if different sources agree

It's not important - one source is enough

Correct Answer

Checking multiple sources helps make sure information is correct by seeing if different sources agree.

Key Points:

If several trustworthy sources say the same thing, the information is more likely to be true
If sources disagree, you might need to do more research or ask a grown-up for help
Using multiple sources also helps you learn different details about your topic

Easy Level Completed!

Great job! You've learned the basics of finding good information online:

Search Master: You know how to use effective search words
Source Evaluator: You can identify trustworthy websites
Fact Checker: You understand why not all online information is true
Resource Finder: You know where to find kid-friendly information
Multiple Source User: You understand the importance of checking multiple sources

Ready to learn more about digital literacy in the Medium Level?

Medium Level: Understanding Media

Now let's learn about different types of media and how to think critically about them:

Understanding different types of media (news, entertainment, advertising)
How to tell fact from opinion
What is clickbait and how to spot it
How photos and videos can be edited
Why some websites want your attention

Before You Start

This level helps you understand different types of media and how to think critically about them.

Learn about different types of online content
Find out how to tell facts from opinions
Understand how and why media can be misleading
Discover why critical thinking is important online

Medium Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. What are the main types of media you might find online?

Only videos and games

News, entertainment, educational content, and advertising

Only things made for kids

Correct Answer

The main types of media online include news, entertainment, educational content, and advertising.

Key Points:

News media shares information about current events
Entertainment media includes videos, games, and fun content
Educational content teaches you new things
Advertising tries to sell you products or services

2. What's the difference between a fact and an opinion?

Facts can be proven true or false, while opinions are what someone thinks or feels

Facts and opinions are the same thing

Only grown-ups can tell facts from opinions

Correct Answer

Facts can be proven true or false, while opinions are what someone thinks or feels.

Key Points:

Facts are statements that can be checked and verified
Opinions use words like "best," "worst," "should," or "believe"
Both facts and opinions can be useful, but it's important to know which is which

3. What is clickbait?

A fishing game online

Attention-grabbing headlines or thumbnails designed to make you click, often misleading

A type of computer virus

Correct Answer

Clickbait refers to attention-grabbing headlines or thumbnails designed to make you click, which are often misleading.

Key Points:

Clickbait often uses shocking words like "unbelievable," "shocking," or "you won't believe"
The actual content usually doesn't match the exciting promise of the headline
Websites use clickbait to get more visitors and make more money from ads

4. How can photos and videos be changed or edited?

They can't be changed once they're taken

They can be edited to add, remove, or change things using special software

Only professional photographers can edit photos

Correct Answer

Photos and videos can be edited to add, remove, or change things using special software.

Key Points:

Even simple apps can change how photos and videos look
Editing can make people or places look different than they do in real life
Sometimes it's hard to tell if a photo or video has been edited

5. Why do some websites and apps try to keep your attention for a long time?

Because they want to help you learn

Because they're trying to be nice

Because they make money from ads or in-app purchases when you spend more time on them

Correct Answer

Many websites and apps make money from ads or in-app purchases when you spend more time on them.

Key Points:

The longer you stay on a site or app, the more ads they can show you
Features like auto-play videos or endless scrolling are designed to keep you engaged
It's good to be aware of how apps and websites try to capture your attention

Medium Level Completed!

Awesome work! You've learned important skills for understanding media:

Media Classifier: You can identify different types of online media
Fact Detective: You know how to tell facts from opinions
Clickbait Spotter: You understand what clickbait is and why it's used
Image Analyst: You know that photos and videos can be edited
Attention Guardian: You understand why websites want to keep your attention

Ready to learn advanced critical thinking skills?

Difficult Level: Critical Thinking Skills

Now let's learn advanced critical thinking skills for the digital world:

How to evaluate if information is reliable
Understanding bias in media
How to compare different sources
Recognizing emotional appeals vs. logical arguments
Creating and sharing content responsibly

Before You Start

This level teaches you advanced critical thinking skills for evaluating online information.

Learn how to evaluate the reliability of information
Find out how to recognize bias in media
Understand how to compare different sources effectively
Discover how to be a responsible digital creator

Difficult Level Questions

Question 1 of 5

1. How can you tell if information is reliable?

If it has lots of pictures

By checking who created it, when it was created, if it matches other trusted sources, and if it provides evidence

If it appears at the top of search results

Correct Answer

You can evaluate reliability by checking who created the information, when it was created, if it matches other trusted sources, and if it provides evidence.

Key Points:

Check who created the information - are they experts on the topic?
Look at when it was created - is it up-to-date?
See if other trusted sources say the same thing
Look for evidence that supports the claims being made

2. What is bias in media?

When a website doesn't work properly

When information is presented in a way that favors one side or viewpoint

When a website has too many ads

Correct Answer

Bias in media is when information is presented in a way that favors one side or viewpoint.

Key Points:

Bias can appear in the words chosen, what information is included or left out, and how stories are presented
Everyone has some bias based on their experiences and beliefs
Looking at multiple sources with different perspectives helps you get a more complete picture

3. Why is it important to compare different sources of information?

It's not important - just use one source

To make your homework longer

To get a more complete understanding and check for accuracy and bias

Correct Answer

Comparing different sources helps you get a more complete understanding and check for accuracy and bias.

Key Points:

Different sources might focus on different aspects of the same topic
If multiple reliable sources agree, the information is more likely to be accurate
Comparing sources with different perspectives helps you identify bias

4. What's the difference between emotional appeals and logical arguments?

Emotional appeals try to make you feel a certain way, while logical arguments use facts and reasoning

They are the same thing

Logical arguments are always wrong

Correct Answer

Emotional appeals try to make you feel a certain way, while logical arguments use facts and reasoning.

Key Points:

Emotional appeals use words and images that make you feel scared, excited, angry, or happy
Logical arguments present evidence and reasoning to support a conclusion
Both can be valid, but it's important to recognize when someone is appealing to your emotions rather than using logic

5. How can you be responsible when creating and sharing content online?

Share anything you want without thinking about it

Only share content made by other people

Make sure your content is accurate, respectful, and doesn't share others' personal information without permission

Correct Answer

Be responsible by making sure your content is accurate, respectful, and doesn't share others' personal information without permission.

Key Points:

Check that information you share is accurate and from reliable sources
Be respectful and kind in what you create and share
Get permission before sharing photos or information about others
Think about how your content might affect others before posting it

Module 6 Completed!

Amazing job! You're now an expert at digital literacy and critical thinking:

Information Evaluator: You can determine if information is reliable
Bias Detector: You understand how bias affects media
Source Comparer: You know why it's important to compare different sources
Critical Thinker: You can tell the difference between emotional appeals and logical arguments
Responsible Creator: You understand how to create and share content responsibly

You now know how to find good information and think critically about what you see online! Want to test your knowledge again or try another module?