# Lesson Notes — Evaluating Online Sources: Misinformation, Disinformation, & Source Credibility

- Link: https://doss.academy/course-1-computer-literacy/unit-5-tlds-search-information-literacy/lesson-3-evaluating-online-sources-misinformation-disinformation-source-credibility/lesson-notes-c1u5l3/
- Published: 2026-10-19T12:10:32-04:00
- Author: matthew.leffler@jefferson.kyschools.us

Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 5: TLDs, Search & Information Literacy / Lesson
3: Evaluating Online Sources: Misinformation, Disinformation, & Source Credibility

## Lesson overview

Anyone can publish anything online, so you have to be the editor. This lesson gives
you a toolkit for deciding whether a source deserves your trust.

## Two kinds of false information

 * **Misinformation** is false or misleading information that is shared without 
   meaning to deceive. Someone believes it and passes it on.
 * **Disinformation** is false information that is spread on purpose to mislead 
   people.

Either one can spread quickly, because shocking claims get shared more than careful
ones.

## The CRAAP test

The **CRAAP test** is a checklist for judging **source credibility**.

 * **Currency:** When was it published or updated? Is that recent enough for your
   topic?
 * **Relevance:** Does it answer your question and fit your audience?
 * **Authority:** Who is the author or **publisher**? What qualifies them?
 * **Accuracy:** Is the information supported by evidence? Can you confirm it somewhere
   else?
 * **Purpose:** Why does this exist: to inform, teach, sell, persuade, or entertain?
   Is there **bias**?

## Lateral reading

Fact-checkers do not stay on a page to decide if it is trustworthy. They open new
tabs and look up what other sources say about the author or site. This is called
lateral reading, and it is often faster and more reliable than judging a site by
how it looks.

## Fact-checking tools

 * Search the claim and see whether trusted news outlets report the same thing.
 * Use fact-checking sites such as Snopes, PolitiFact, or FactCheck.org.
 * Do a reverse image search to see where a picture first appeared.

## Check your understanding

 1. Explain the difference between misinformation and disinformation with an example
    of each.
 2. Apply the CRAAP test to one website you use for school. What score would you give
    it?
 3. You see a shocking post. What are two things you do before sharing?

Use this lesson’s Key Terms page to build your glossary.