Checkology - Detailed Review
News Tools
Checkology - Product Overview
Checkology Overview
Checkology is a free e-learning platform developed by the News Literacy Project, aimed at equipping students with the skills to critically evaluate and interpret news and other information.
Primary Function
The primary function of Checkology is to build news literacy skills. It helps students distinguish between credible and unreliable information, identify bias, detect misinformation, and apply critical thinking to separate facts from falsehoods. The platform focuses on empowering students to become informed, critical consumers of news and other content in the digital landscape.
Target Audience
Checkology is targeted at students, particularly those in grades 5 and up, as well as educators and independent learners. It is suitable for use in various educational settings, including individual study, small groups, or entire classes.
Key Features
Interactive Lessons
Led by top journalists and digital media experts, the lessons are interactive and multimedia-based, using real-world examples from news sites and social media to engage students.
Assessments and Evaluations
The platform includes a variety of assessments and evaluations to help students and educators track progress. Educators can access and evaluate all student work through a lightweight learning management system (LMS).
Additional Tools
Features such as the Word Wall (a glossary of news literacy terms), Discuss Wall (for classroom discussions), and messaging options for educators to communicate with students are also available.
Real-World Examples
Lessons incorporate resources from diverse information sources, including CNN, NBC news affiliates, national newspapers, blogs, and social media platforms. This approach provides multiple perspectives on given topics without favoring a singular point of view.
Premium Features
For premium access, additional features include live online lessons and conversations with journalists, teacher evaluation and feedback, and incentives like points and skills badges for students.
Conclusion
Overall, Checkology is a comprehensive tool that helps students develop essential skills in news literacy, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
Checkology - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of Checkology
The user interface of Checkology is crafted to be engaging, intuitive, and effective in teaching news literacy skills, particularly focusing on engagement and factual accuracy.Ease of Use
Checkology’s platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate. The lesson modules are interactive and visually appealing, with concise and well-produced videos that guide students through the learning process.Module Details
- Each module provides clear details on its duration, difficulty level, and the lesson host, making it easy for both students and educators to plan and manage their time.
- The modules are divided into sections that include video guidance, written sections, example media, and questions, all controlled by a simple “Next” icon.
Visual Appeal and Interactivity
The platform incorporates a variety of multimedia elements, such as videos, social media posts, tweets, memes, and Instagram posts, to keep the learning experience engaging. These resources are pulled from a wide range of information sources, including CNN, NBC news affiliates, national newspapers, blogs, and social media platforms.Customization and Flexibility
Educators have the flexibility to customize the learning experience for their students. They can create their own sequences of lessons from scratch, use preset learning sequences, or modify existing ones. This flexibility allows teachers to adapt the content to fit the needs of their students and integrate it seamlessly into their curriculum.Assessment and Feedback
The platform includes several assessment options, allowing teachers to evaluate student work, provide feedback, and assign credit. Teachers can view student submissions, export student reports to an Excel spreadsheet, and access detailed lesson guides that include estimated time, learning objectives, and alignment to national standards.Additional Features
- Word Wall: Provides quick access to a glossary of news literacy terms, helping students familiarize themselves with key concepts.
- Discuss Wall: An optional feature where students can respond to prompts created by their educators, fostering classroom discussions.
- Messaging: Educators can send announcements, text-response messages, and multiple-choice questions to students within the platform.
Overall User Experience
The overall user experience is positive, with many educators praising the platform’s ease of use and effectiveness. The interactive and visually appealing lessons help students engage actively with the material, and the flexibility in customization allows teachers to manage the learning process efficiently. The platform’s focus on real-world examples and diverse perspectives ensures that students are well-prepared to evaluate and interpret news accurately. In summary, Checkology offers a well-structured, engaging, and easy-to-use interface that supports both students and educators in developing critical news literacy skills. Checkology - Key Features and Functionality
Checkology Overview
Checkology, a free e-learning platform developed by the News Literacy Project, is designed to empower students to identify credible information and develop critical thinking skills in the context of news media. Here are the key features and functionalities of Checkology:Modules and Lessons
Checkology offers a series of interactive modules that teach students how to evaluate real-world news. These modules are led by top journalists and experts, including those from *The New York Times*, *Washington Post*, and BuzzFeed. Each module includes video lessons, written sections, example media, and questions that guide students through the learning process.Real-World Applications
The platform uses real-world news examples to help students apply critical thinking skills. Students can work through modules individually or as a class, and the system includes a “Check Tool” that allows them to evaluate actual news and media sources.Key Areas Covered
Checkology focuses on four main areas:1. Knowing what to believe as true
2. Navigating the media world
3. Filtering news and other media
4. Exercising civil freedoms
These areas help students distinguish between fake news and real stories, and to evaluate the credibility of sources.Evaluation and Feedback
The platform includes a lightweight learning management system (LMS) that allows educators to see and access all student submissions. This enables teachers to evaluate student work and provide feedback. Additionally, features like the “Discuss Wall” allow for classroom discussions and student responses to prompts created by educators.Additional Tools
Word Wall
Provides students with quick access to a glossary of news literacy terms.Co-teachers
Allows educators to assign co-teachers to each section of students, enabling them to access and evaluate student work.Messaging
Educators can send announcements, text-response messages, and multiple-choice questions to students within the platform.Flexibility and Accessibility
Checkology modules are free to access and use, supported entirely by philanthropic donations. There are no ads or tracking of user details. The modules are designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to lead the class through each one as a group or for students to work individually at their own pace.Professional Development
The platform offers professional development opportunities for teachers, curated by Checkology and the News Literacy Project. This includes additional teaching materials and transcripts to support educators in integrating news literacy into their curriculum.AI Integration
While Checkology itself is not primarily an AI-driven product, it does use interactive and engaging methods to teach critical thinking. However, there is no explicit mention of AI integration within the core functionality of Checkology. The focus is on expert-led lessons and real-world examples to teach news literacy skills.Conclusion
In summary, Checkology is a valuable tool for educating students about news literacy, emphasizing critical thinking, source evaluation, and the importance of a free press, all without relying on AI-driven features. Checkology - Performance and Accuracy
Performance and Accuracy
Checkology has shown significant improvements in students’ news literacy skills across various metrics. Here are some highlights:Standard 2
Students demonstrated substantial growth in identifying the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment, with a 37.9-point improvement and an accuracy of 75.2% in the post-survey.Standard 4 and 5
Metrics associated with these standards also saw notable improvements. For example, Metric 4.1 achieved 72.1% accuracy with a 15.1-point growth, and Metric 5.2 showed 67.5% agreement with targeted attitudes and a 13.9-point growth. However, there are areas where the platform faces challenges:Standard 1
This standard, which includes metrics on identifying propaganda, advertising, opinion, and news, saw limited accuracy and growth. For instance, Metric 1.2, which asked students to identify advertisements on a webpage, had only 2.8% accuracy in the post-survey, indicating a significant area for improvement.Retention
While students generally retained or improved their accuracy in most metrics, there was an 8.3-point drop in accuracy for Metric 3.1, suggesting some areas where retention strategies might need enhancement.Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Content and Cultural Relevance
Checkology faces challenges similar to other media literacy programs, such as the need for content adaptation to different languages and cultural contexts. Ensuring the content is relevant and accessible across diverse cultural settings is crucial for its effectiveness.Engagement Strategies
While Checkology offers interactive and expert-led lessons, there is a risk that some students might find the content too complicated or not engaging enough. Incorporating more varied and engaging strategies could help maintain students’ interest and attention.Evaluation Metrics
The platform’s evaluation metrics could be refined. For example, the lack of a codebook for certain metrics, such as those in Standard 1, hampers the ability to interpret student responses accurately.Bias and Partisanship
Ensuring that the content remains unbiased and free from partisanship is essential. This involves continuous monitoring and updating of the material to avoid any potential biases.User-Friendliness
The platform needs to prioritize user-friendliness and simplicity to ensure that students and educators can easily navigate and use the resources provided. Outdated examples and case studies can also reduce the platform’s effectiveness, so regular updates are necessary.Engagement
Checkology incorporates several features to enhance engagement, such as interactive lessons, practice activities, and a “Discuss Wall” for classroom discussions. These features help students engage actively with the content and develop critical thinking skills. In summary, while Checkology has shown promising results in improving students’ news literacy skills, it faces challenges related to content relevance, engagement strategies, and evaluation metrics. Addressing these areas can help enhance the platform’s overall effectiveness and accuracy. Checkology - Pricing and Plans
Checkology Pricing and Accessibility
Free Access
Checkology is completely free for all users, including teachers, students, and independent learners. There are no costs associated with using the platform, and it is supported entirely by philanthropic donations.
No Payment Information Required
Users are not asked for payment information at any point during their use of Checkology.
Universal Availability
The platform is available to anyone interested in learning news literacy skills, from middle and high school students to adult learners and community college students.
Educational Support
Checkology provides extensive support materials, including a Help Center with articles and tutorials, and offers additional resources and training for educators at no cost.
Summary
In summary, Checkology is a free resource with no different tiers or plans, making it accessible to everyone without any financial barriers.
Checkology - Integration and Compatibility
Checkology Overview
Checkology, a free e-learning platform from the News Literacy Project, is designed to integrate seamlessly with various educational tools and systems, ensuring compatibility across different platforms and devices.Platform Compatibility
Checkology operates within several major web browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Edge. It is optimized for both desktop and mobile usage, supporting devices such as Windows, Apple, and Chromebooks.Login and Integration Methods
For ease of access, Checkology offers multiple login methods. These include email or username/password, Google Single Sign-On (SSO), Clever, and Schoology SSO. Additional methods such as LDAP and SAML 2.0 are also being developed to cater to different school and district needs.Data Security and Transfer
Checkology ensures data security through industry-standard SSL encryption and HTTPS connections. The platform uses Amazon Web Services (AWS) for hosting, which includes robust security measures such as AWS Security groups and encrypted storage using OpenSSL with AES-256 encryption. Data transfers are secure, and schools can opt for pre-enrolling their entire roster using secure methods like SFTP and PGP keys.Learning Management System (LMS) Integration
Checkology features a lightweight LMS that allows educators to see and access all work submitted by students. This includes tools like the Discuss Wall for classroom discussions, Word Wall for quick access to news literacy terms, and messaging options for announcements, text responses, and multiple-choice questions.Video Hosting
Videos within Checkology are hosted on multiple platforms, including YouTube, Vimeo, and Wistia. This ensures that users can adjust their video preferences based on the platform that works best for them.Technical Requirements
For optimal performance, a minimum internet connection speed of 2.5Mbps is recommended. Schools need to ensure that the necessary domains (checkology.org, newslit.org, and the selected video hosting platforms) are whitelisted to access the platform without any restrictions.Conclusion
Overall, Checkology is engineered to be highly compatible and integrative, making it a versatile tool for educators to teach news literacy across various educational settings. Checkology - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support
- Users can contact the Checkology team directly through a contact form available on the website. This allows them to submit questions or issues and receive a response from the support team.
- There is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section that addresses common queries and provides immediate answers to many of the questions users might have.
Additional Resources
- Help Center: Checkology has a dedicated help center where users can find answers to various questions and get assistance with using the platform.
- Teacher Evaluation and Feedback: For educators, the platform offers tools to evaluate student work, provide feedback, and send messages to students. This includes announcements, text-response, and multiple-choice messages.
- Word Wall: This feature provides students with quick access to a glossary of news literacy terms, helping them understand key concepts.
- Discuss Wall: This optional classroom discussion wall allows students to respond to prompts created by their educators, fostering engagement and discussion.
- Co-teachers: Educators can assign co-teachers to each section of students, enabling them to access and evaluate student work as well.
Educational Resources
- Interactive Lessons: The platform features interactive multimedia lessons guided by leading journalists and experts. These lessons include real-world examples from social media and news sites, making the content relevant and engaging.
- Assessments and Badges: The platform includes a variety of assessments and incentives such as points and skills badges to motivate students.
- Standards Alignment: Checkology’s content is aligned with educational standards, making it easier for educators to integrate into their curriculum.
Community and Updates
- Checkology is active on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, where users can stay updated on the latest developments and resources.
These resources and support options are designed to ensure that both students and educators have the tools they need to effectively engage with and benefit from the Checkology platform.
Checkology - Pros and Cons
Advantages of Checkology
Engagement and Relevance
Checkology is highly engaging, using interactive multimedia lessons guided by top journalists and experts. These lessons incorporate real-world examples from social media and news sites, making the content relevant and relatable to students of all ages.
Comprehensive Curriculum
The platform offers 19 foundational news literacy lessons covering critical topics such as misinformation, conspiratorial thinking, news media bias, and the impact of personalization algorithms. These lessons are aligned with various educational standards, including ELA, Common Core, and social studies frameworks.
Practical Skills Development
Checkology helps students develop essential skills in identifying credible information, detecting misinformation, and evaluating sources. It also teaches students to categorize information, make and critique news judgments, and identify logical fallacies.
Flexible Implementation
The platform is highly flexible, allowing teachers to use it in both remote and in-person settings, synchronously or asynchronously. Teachers can project lessons in the classroom or have students complete assessments on their own devices.
Teacher Support and Feedback
Checkology provides educators with tools to evaluate student work through a lightweight learning management system (LMS). Features include the ability to assign co-teachers, access student submissions, and use discussion walls for classroom interactions.
Impact on Students
Independent evaluations show that students who complete Checkology lessons gain significant skills, such as increased confidence in spotting and correcting misinformation. The platform has also been shown to positively impact civic engagement and attitudes towards credible information.
Disadvantages of Checkology
Limited Free Features
While Checkology is a free platform, some advanced features, such as live online lessons and conversations with journalists, are available only with premium access. This could limit the full potential of the platform for schools or individuals without the budget for premium features.
Time Requirement
Each lesson is designed as a mini-unit, which can take longer than a typical 45-minute class period to complete, especially if whole-class discussions are included. This may require significant time commitment from both teachers and students.
Technical Integration
Although the platform is flexible and can be integrated with various learning management systems, it does not have direct integration, which might require some manual effort to export grades and student progress.
Overall, Checkology is a valuable resource for teaching news literacy, offering a comprehensive and engaging curriculum with strong support for educators. However, it may have some limitations in terms of free features and the time required to fully implement the lessons.
Checkology - Comparison with Competitors
Checkology’s Unique Features
Checkology, developed by the News Literacy Project, is a free e-learning platform that focuses on teaching students to identify credible sources, distinguish fact-based information from falsehoods, and apply critical thinking skills. Here are some of its standout features:- Free Access: Checkology is entirely free, supported by philanthropic donations, with no ads or tracking of user data.
- Interactive Lessons: The platform offers 19 foundational news literacy lessons led by top journalists and experts, using real-world examples from social media and news sites.
- Educational Tools: It includes features like the Word Wall (a glossary of news literacy terms), Discuss Wall (for classroom discussions), and a lightweight learning management system (LMS) for educators to evaluate student work.
- Real-World Applications: Students can use the Check Tool to evaluate real news and media sources independently or as part of a class.
Alternatives and Comparisons
AI-Driven News Generation Tools
While Checkology is focused on news literacy, there are AI-driven tools that automate news production and aggregation. Here are a few examples:- OpenAI’s GPT-3: This tool excels in natural language processing and content generation, making it ideal for automated article writing. However, it may produce factually incorrect information and lacks the depth of human journalism.
- Wordsmith: This tool is used for data-driven storytelling, which is beneficial for presenting complex information in an accessible format. Unlike Checkology, it is not focused on teaching news literacy but rather on generating content.
- NewsAPI: This tool aggregates news from various sources, providing real-time updates. It is more about staying updated on current events rather than teaching how to evaluate the credibility of sources.
Key Differences
- Purpose: Checkology is primarily an educational tool aimed at teaching news literacy skills, whereas AI-driven tools like GPT-3, Wordsmith, and NewsAPI are focused on content generation, data-driven storytelling, and news aggregation.
- User Base: Checkology is designed for students, particularly in middle and high school, while AI-driven tools are generally used by media professionals and journalists.
- Engagement and Factual Accuracy: Checkology emphasizes critical thinking and the evaluation of sources to ensure factual accuracy. AI tools, while efficient in content creation, may risk inaccuracies and lack the depth provided by human journalists.
Engagement and Factual Accuracy
Checkology stands out in its commitment to engagement and factual accuracy through interactive lessons and real-world examples. It does not rely on AI-generated content but instead teaches students how to evaluate information critically. This approach ensures that students develop a healthy skepticism towards information and can identify credible sources, which is crucial in today’s information landscape. In summary, while AI-driven tools like GPT-3 and Wordsmith are valuable for automated news production, Checkology remains unique in its focus on teaching news literacy skills, ensuring students can critically evaluate information and distinguish fact from falsehood. Checkology - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about Checkology, along with detailed responses:
What is Checkology and what does it teach?
Checkology is a free e-learning platform created by the News Literacy Project. It teaches students how to identify credible sources, discern fact-based information, and detect misinformation and faulty evidence. The platform covers topics such as news media bias, misinformation, and conspiratorial thinking through interactive lessons led by top journalists and experts.
Who is Checkology intended for?
Checkology is primarily intended for middle and high school students, but it has also been successfully used with students from fifth grade through community college, as well as with adult learners. Each lesson has a difficulty ranking to help educators customize the course for their students.
What are the key features of Checkology?
Checkology includes several key features:
- Evaluation: Educators can evaluate student work through a lightweight learning management system (LMS).
- Word Wall: A glossary of news literacy terms for quick reference.
- Co-teachers: Educators can assign co-teachers to access and evaluate student work.
- Discuss Wall: An optional classroom discussion wall for student responses.
- Messaging: Educators can send announcements, text-response, and multiple-choice messages to students.
- Check Tool: Allows students to work independently through news or media sources to evaluate truth and falsehoods.
How do students access Checkology?
Students can access Checkology using a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet (it is not optimized for smartphones). They need an up-to-date operating system, browser, and enough network bandwidth to stream video. Students can sign up using Google or Microsoft credentials, making sign-up and credential retention simpler for educators.
Is Checkology free to use?
Yes, Checkology is completely free to use. It is supported entirely by philanthropic donations and does not require any payment information. There are also no ads or tracking of user details.
How can educators integrate Checkology into their curriculum?
Educators can integrate Checkology into various subject areas, including social studies, English language arts, libraries, media centers, civics, government, journalism, and technology courses. The platform provides flexibility to choose topics and sequence that align with the standards being taught. Educators can also use the “Quick Lesson Info” sheet to find and implement relevant lessons.
What kind of support does Checkology offer for educators?
Checkology offers extensive support materials and a Help Center via the teacher account. Educators can find support articles, tutorials, and contact support via phone, chat, or email. Additionally, the News Literacy Project provides training and extra resources at no cost for districts that partner with them.
Can Checkology be integrated with other learning management systems (LMS)?
Checkology does not offer full integrations with other LMS or student information systems. However, it does allow students to sign up using Google and Microsoft credentials, which simplifies the process for educators. For more information on LMS/SIS and Checkology, educators can contact the support team.
What kind of professional development opportunities are available for teachers?
Checkology and the News Literacy Project offer professional development opportunities for teachers, including curated materials and transcripts. These resources help teachers effectively use the platform and enhance their own news literacy skills.
How does Checkology ensure the security and privacy of user data?
The News Literacy Project uses appropriate administrative, technological, and physical safeguards to protect the information collected and provided via Checkology from loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. You can review Checkology’s privacy policy, Terms of Use, and security and safety compliance documentation for more details.
Checkology - Conclusion and Recommendation
Final Assessment of Checkology
Checkology, a free e-learning platform developed by the News Literacy Project, stands out as a valuable resource for building news literacy skills, particularly in the context of engaging students and promoting factual accuracy.Key Benefits
- Engaging and Authoritative Lessons: Checkology offers interactive lessons led by top journalists and experts, covering critical topics such as news media bias, misinformation, and conspiratorial thinking. These lessons are designed to be engaging and relevant, using real-world examples from social media and news sites.
- Critical Thinking and Fact-Checking: The platform helps students develop essential skills in identifying credible information, seeking out reliable sources, and separating fact-based content from falsehoods. This is achieved through a series of foundational news literacy lessons and interactive exercises.
- Educator Tools: Checkology provides educators with a lightweight learning management system (LMS) to evaluate student work, a Word Wall for quick access to news literacy terms, and features like the Discuss Wall for classroom discussions. Educators can also send various types of messages to students and assign co-teachers to manage student work.
- Impact and Effectiveness: Independent evaluations have shown that students who complete Checkology lessons demonstrate significant improvement in recognizing credible information and detecting misinformation. For instance, 72% of students recognized when a social media post did not provide credible evidence after using the platform.
Who Would Benefit Most
Checkology is primarily intended for middle and high school students, but its benefits can extend to anyone looking to enhance their news literacy skills. Here are some key groups that would benefit:- Students: Middle and high school students are the primary target, as the platform helps them develop critical thinking skills and discern credible information in a digital environment.
- Educators: Teachers and librarians can use Checkology to integrate news literacy into their curriculum, leveraging the platform’s structured lessons and evaluation tools.
- General Public: Anyone interested in improving their ability to identify reliable sources and combat misinformation can benefit from Checkology’s comprehensive lessons and interactive exercises.
Overall Recommendation
Checkology is highly recommended for its comprehensive approach to teaching news literacy. Here’s why:- Factual Accuracy: The platform is built on fact-based content and real-world examples, ensuring that users learn to distinguish credible information from misinformation.
- Engagement: The interactive and multimodal learning approach, including short video clips and real-life examples, makes the learning experience engaging and relevant to students of all ages.
- Educator Support: The tools and features provided for educators make it easy to integrate Checkology into existing curricula and monitor student progress effectively.