Lesson Plan

• Describe the four criteria (currency, reliability, bias, validity) used to evaluate online information.
• Apply a systematic, step‑by‑step process to assess the credibility of a web source.
• Analyse and compare multiple sources to determine which is most reliable for a given task.
• Create a completed evaluation checklist for a chosen article.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Student handouts – evaluation checklist
• Laptops or tablets with internet access
• Printed example web pages/articles
• Rubric sheet for peer feedback

Begin with a quick poll: “What online source do you trust most and why?” Connect this to prior lessons on digital citizenship. Explain that today’s success criteria are to identify the four evaluation criteria and correctly apply the evaluation process to any web source.

1. Do‑now (5') – Students jot down a recent news article they read and note why they trust it.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Present the four evaluation criteria (currency, reliability, bias, validity) with real‑world examples using the projector.
3. Guided practice (15') – Whole‑class walk‑through of the step‑by‑step evaluation process on a projected sample website.
4. Pair activity (15') – Learners use laptops to evaluate a provided article, completing the checklist.
5. Whole‑class debrief (10') – Pairs share their judgments; discuss any differences and reinforce key questioning techniques.
6. Exit ticket (5') – Each student writes one actionable tip they will use when researching online.

Recap the four criteria and the evaluation steps, highlighting common pitfalls discussed. Collect exit tickets and remind students to apply the checklist to another source at home, bringing the completed sheet for the next lesson.