Media & Information Literacy

Reading media critically: distinguishing fact from fiction, evaluating sources, and creating media responsibly.

K–12 objective ladder

• K D10.S2.K.01 Tell the difference between a real thing they see and a made-up picture or story.
• 1 D10.S2.01.01 Tell the difference between a real photo and a drawing or a pretend story, and give one reason.
• 1 D10.S2.01.02 Say who made a simple picture, poster, or story and who it was made for.
• 2 D10.S2.02.01 Tell where a piece of information came from, such as a book, a grown-up, or a screen, and ask one question about it.
• 2 D10.S2.02.02 Tell whether a simple message is trying to give you true information or to sell you something.
• 3 D10.S2.03.01 Tell the difference between an advertisement and information, and give one clue that something is an ad.
• 3 D10.S2.03.02 Explain that a message has a purpose and an audience, and name both for a simple message.
• 4 D10.S2.04.01 Identify the author, purpose, and audience of a message and explain how they shape it.
• 4 D10.S2.04.02 Check whether a simple claim is true by finding a second source and comparing them.
• 5 D10.S2.05.01 Evaluate whether a claim is likely true by checking more than one source and noting where they agree or disagree.
• 5 D10.S2.05.02 Recognize when a message favors one side, and explain what fair reporting would include.
• 6 D10.S2.06.01 Distinguish between news, opinion, and advertisement, and identify clues for each.
• 6 D10.S2.06.02 Identify a persuasive technique, such as a loaded word or an emotional image, and explain how it tries to shape a view.
• 7 D10.S2.07.01 Explain what makes a source trustworthy, and compare two sources on the same topic for reliability.
• 7 D10.S2.07.02 Explain the difference between misinformation (false by mistake) and disinformation (false on purpose), with an example of each.
• 8 D10.S2.08.01 Analyze how a photo, video, or story can be framed or edited to change its meaning, and explain how to check it.
• 8 D10.S2.08.02 Evaluate whether an image or video might be altered or misleading, such as a deepfake, and describe one way to check.
• 9 D10.S2.09.01 Explain how algorithmic feeds and "echo chambers" can narrow what people see, and name a way to break out of them.
• 9 D10.S2.09.02 Evaluate a viral claim by tracing it to its source and checking it against independent reporting.
• 10 D10.S2.10.01 Apply a fact-checking method to a real claim, tracing evidence and separating fact from interpretation.
• 10 D10.S2.10.02 Analyze who owns the media people consume and how concentrated ownership can shape what is reported and left out.
• 11 D10.S2.11.01 Analyze propaganda and information manipulation in a historical or current case, and how a free press and literacy resist it.
• 11 D10.S2.11.02 Evaluate the responsibilities of creators and platforms when information spreads harm, and argue for what should change.
• 12 D10.S2.12.01 Practice responsible media creation by making and sharing a message that is accurate, fair, and honest about its sources.
• 12 D10.S2.12.02 Reflect on how they will stay informed in a flood of information, holding claims open to evidence rather than settling into certainty.

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