Misinformation
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Average Duration
30-60 min.
Difficulty Level
2.5
Lesson Host
Claire Wardle
of First Draft
About

Learn to understand different types of misinformation and the ways that misinformation can damage democracy.

News literacy topics

Social media; Misinformation; Fact-checking and verification; Digital citizenship

Learning objectives

  • I can identify and differentiate between different types of misinformation.
  • I can explain why understanding and debunking misinformation matters.
  • I can evaluate and explain the possible consequences of misinformation.
  • I can understand the role of Russian disinformation during and after the 2016 presidential election.

Essential questions

  • What makes some pieces of information “go viral”?
  • What makes rumors spread?
  • What emotions do rumors provoke in people?
  • What are some of the reasons people share false information?
  • Is all misinformation bad or damaging? Why or why not?

Excerpt

“Here are three questions that can help us to understand the broader landscape of misinformation.

One: What are some different types of misinformation?
Two: Why should we care? and
Three: How can we fight back against it?

Let’s start with the first question: Misinformation comes in all different shapes and sizes. Learning to identify different types makes it easier to distinguish misinformation from factual information.”