Mastering Online Research: Finding and Evaluating Credible Sources

Miacademy & MiaPrep Learning Channel

This video serves as a comprehensive guide for students on how to conduct effective online research and evaluate the credibility of sources. It begins with a relatable skit about a dubious social media health trend to illustrate the necessity of verifying information. The host then breaks down specific search strategies, including keyword selection, using quotation marks for exact phrases, employing Boolean operators (AND/OR), and utilizing Google Scholar for academic research. The second half of the video transitions from finding sources to evaluating them, introducing the concepts of "Green Flags" and "Red Flags" for reliability. It explains the significance of domain extensions (.edu, .gov, .org), the importance of recent publication dates, and how to identify signs of unreliability such as poor grammar, lack of evidence, or biased intent. The lesson concludes by applying these concepts to the initial "smoothie trend" example, debunking it using the red flags discussed. This resource is highly valuable for English Language Arts and Social Studies classrooms, particularly for units on research papers, argumentative writing, or digital literacy. It empowers students to move beyond simple Google searches and think critically about the information they consume. Teachers can use this video to introduce research projects or as a standalone lesson on information literacy to help students distinguish between fact, opinion, and misinformation in the digital age.