Finding and checking – learner digital skills toolkit

Learners should know how web browsers and search engines work and how this might affect their search results. They should also understand that anyone can publish anything on the internet and that they should check the reliability and integrity of any information they find.

They should be able to use ‘common apps’, such as Edge, Chrome or Safari browsers and be able to use the search bar, or a search site, to find information using search phrases and controls to make the results more accurate.

This learning covers Experience and Outcome x-02a.

back to digital literacy

Developing beyond basic use of the web and search engines to find information, learners should develop their information and media literacy alongside their digital skills.

Information literacy is the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to develop informed views and to engage fully with society. (Scottish Media and Information Literacy CoP (2024))

go to the Cyber Toolkit for advice and guidance on Information and Media Literacy

Browsing the web and finding information

BBC Bitesize has useful information on how technology can be used to find information.

Go to BBC Bitesize

This section focuses on the basic knowledge and skills required to use the most common devices and software to access, browse and search the web.

Barclays Digital Wings

Internet essentials

Social media basics

Starting to think about online information

GCF Global has a range of tutorials on information and media literacy.

Go to GCF Global

Project Real is a free resources for educators to teach information and media literacy.

Go to Project Real

Project Real also makes use of the SHARE checklist for learners to consider before sharing any online information:

Source
Headline
Analyse
Retouched
Error

Go to the SHARE Checklist

What next? (for teachers)

Building on the previous digital knowledge and skills, digitally literate learners should take a critical approach to the information they find online and consider the accuracy and validity of the information, as well as who created it and their reason for doing so. This aspect of digital literacy can be considered Information and Media Literacy and cuts across a wide range of curricular areas.

Teacher who want to know more, might find these links useful:

An in-depth analysis of what children are watching online and why can be found in the Ofcom reports go to Ofcom

More information on media and information literacy here:

Media and Information Literacy Alliance

UNESCO Media and Information Literacy

What next? (for learners)

The Ferret Fact Service is a Scottish fact-checking service and accredited by the International Fact-Checking Network.

Go to the Ferret Fact Service

Project Real is a series of lesson plans and resources for six lessons, each focussed on the government SHARE guidelines and covering a different element of online misinformation.

Go to Project Real

Microsoft Teams Search Coach is useful to help learners evaluate the reliability of search results.

Go to Microsoft Search Coach