Rate each source on four criteria — then see if your evaluation matches the expert rating
Rate each source on these four criteria (1-5 stars):
Not all information sources are created equal. A peer-reviewed scientific journal article has been checked by other experts before publication. A random blog post has not. A well-established newspaper has professional editors, fact-checkers, and ethical guidelines. A social media post may have none of these. Teaching children to evaluate the quality and reliability of information sources is one of the most important media literacy skills.
Librarians and educators commonly use the CRAAP test to evaluate sources. CRAAP stands for Currency (how recent is it?), Relevance (does it relate to your topic?), Authority (who is the author and what are their credentials?), Accuracy (is it supported by evidence?), and Purpose (why was it created — to inform, persuade, sell, or entertain?). This framework gives students a systematic way to assess any source of information.
Students should understand the difference between primary sources (original research, eyewitness accounts, raw data, official documents) and secondary sources (textbooks, news articles, summaries that interpret primary sources). Both have value, but knowing which type you are reading helps you evaluate its reliability. A news article about a scientific study is a secondary source — to verify its accuracy, you would ideally check the original study (the primary source).
Website domain extensions provide clues about a source but are not guarantees of quality. Government sites (.gov) and educational institutions (.edu) generally have editorial oversight. Nonprofit organizations (.org) vary widely in credibility. Commercial sites (.com) may prioritize profit over accuracy. However, a .org domain can host misinformation, and a .com site can publish excellent journalism. Domain is one clue among many, not a definitive indicator.
Last reviewed: April 2026 · Aligned with NAMLE Core Principles and ISTE Digital Citizenship standards