Webinar Replay: Checkology

In today’s fast-paced digital world, students are constantly bombarded with information from countless sources. Teaching news literacy has never been more important.

In a recent 30-minute webinar, News Literacy Project Director of State Engagement Erin Olson shares how equipping students with the skills to discern fact from fiction is essential for their success as informed citizens and critical thinkers.

The Importance of News Literacy

News literacy falls under the broader umbrella of media literacy, but it focuses specifically on helping students evaluate the credibility, validity, accuracy, and bias of news and information. The goal is not to tell students what to think, but rather how to think—encouraging independent, critical thought and engaged participation in civic life.

With the rise of social media and AI-generated content, anyone can share information widely, making it crucial for students to develop healthy skepticism and effective fact-checking habits. Students need to be able to verify information, recognize misinformation, and understand the influence of algorithms and generative AI on what they see online.

Free Resources for Teachers

The News Literacy Project offers a wealth of free, nonpartisan resources to help teachers bring news literacy into their classrooms.

1. Checkology Platform

• A free, online lesson platform designed for grades 5-12. Some resources are also available for elementary students.
• Over 20 cross-curricular lessons, each lasting 2–5 class periods, covering topics like distinguishing information types, understanding algorithms, and vetting news sources. Each lesson comes with a full transcript, lesson guide, objectives, essential questions, and vocabulary support, making it easy for teachers to prepare and adapt materials for their students.
• A resource library of quizzes, slide decks, infographics, posters, and more. Examples include “Six Things to Know About AI” and “Is It Legit?,” which provides five steps for vetting a news source. Resources are searchable by category, topic, grade level, duration, subject area, and standard, making it easy to find materials tailored to your classroom needs.
• A Newsroom to Classroom program that lets teachers invite professional journalists (in-person or virtually) to speak with students, providing real-world insights and extending learning beyond the classroom.

2. The Sift Newsletter

• A weekly newsletter filled with discussion questions, lesson ideas, teaching guides, videos, and graphic organizers—all connected to current events.
• Includes two free slide decks each week: “Daily Do Now” bell ringers (5–10 minute activities to spark discussion and reinforce news literacy concepts) and “Rumor Guard” slides (fact-checking viral claims and modeling verification strategies).
• Archived slide decks are available for easy access and searching by topic.

Practical Classroom Applications

The News Literacy Project resources are designed to be flexible—whether you’re just starting out or ready to dive deep. For example, the “Daily Do Now” slides can be used as quick bell ringers or mini-lessons, while full Checkology lessons can supplement your curriculum in ELA, STEM, civics, history, or humanities classes. The “Rumor Guard” slides and challenges like “Is It Legit?” walk students through the process of verifying viral claims, modeling the critical thinking and research skills they need.

Get Started Today

All resources are free and ready to use. To access them:

• Register for a free Checkology account.
• Subscribe to The Sift newsletter.
• Explore the resource library and lesson guides.
• Invite a journalist to your classroom.

For more information or support, you can reach out to Erin Olson at eolson@newslit.org.

These resources are also valuable for teachers who want to build their own understanding of news literacy, AI, and algorithms.

Take MSTA's News & Media Literacy Mini-Course to receive 0.5 hours of PD credit.

This post was written with the help of MSTA's AI chatbot Tillie based on the original MSTA webinar streamed Dec. 2, 2025.