What is CTRL-F?

Named for the keyboard shortcut for ‘find,’ CTRL-F is based on the idea that there are simple steps anyone can take to understand online information.

Why Verify?

Reflect on your media habits and understand what's at stake in our polluted online information environment.

Core Lateral Reading Skills

Learn and practise 3 key lateral reading strategies: Investigate the Source, Check the Claim, and Trace the Information.

AI Literacy

Demystify new generative AI tech, understand how they contribute to mis and disinformation online and apply your lateral reading skills to AI-generated content.

Read laterally, not vertically

Often when we want to know if information is credible, we look at the information itself — analyzing the professionalism of a site, or trusting what a source says about themselves. This is called ‘vertical reading’ — staying on the page and looking for clues. A better and faster way is to open a new tab and conduct simple research into the source or claim. This is called ‘lateral reading’ — it’s what professional fact-checkers do to efficiently reach informed conclusions.

What you'll get from this course:

Evidence-Based Strategies

Empower yourself with the same research skills that professional fact-checkers use.

Hands-On Practise

Opportunities to practise your lateral reading skills with live web examples.

Certificate of Completion

Upon completion you will receive a certificate to celebrate your new digital media literacy skills.

Course Curriculum

7 Chapters · 61 Lessons

  1. 1

    Introduction

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to CTRL-F!

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Registration

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Why the Program Is Needed

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      What the Program Is Intended to Do

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      What the Program Is Not Intended to Do

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Program Outline

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Online Course Instructions

  2. 2

    Lesson 1: Why Verify

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Starter: Your Media Habits

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Starter: Your Media Habits cont.

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Pop Quiz!

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Misinformation and Disinformation

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      How to Evaluate Online Information

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Summary

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Note

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 1 Knowledge Check

  3. 3

    Lesson 2: Investigate the Source

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Sources and Motives

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Persuasive Sources

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Investigating Sources Using Wikipedia

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      The Wikipedia Trick

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      The Wikipedia Trick: Example

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Investigating Sources

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Bias and Agenda

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Identifying Agenda

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Expertise

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Evaluating Expertise

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Summary

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 2 Knowledge Check

  4. 4

    Lesson 3: Check the Claim

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Types of Claims

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Checking Claims

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Where to Check Claims

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Checking Claims

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Checking Complicated Claims

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Checking Complicated Claims

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Summary

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 3 Knowledge Check

  5. 5

    Lesson 4: Trace the Information

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Reporting on Reporting

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Click Through and Find

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Tracing Information

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Search the History of an Image

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Practise Searching Images

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Summary

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 4 Knowledge Check

  6. 6

    Lesson 5: AI Literacy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      What is AI?

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      What is Generative AI?

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Try It Out

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      AI Misinformation

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      AI Disinformation and Deepfakes

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      How Not to Identify AI Content

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Investigating AI Sources

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Checking Chatbot Claims

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Tracing AI-Generated Media

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Summary

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 5 Knowledge Check

  7. 7

    Program Summary & Final Knowledge Check

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Program Summary

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Note

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Final Knowledge Check

Meet Your Guides

Jane is an investigative journalist with experience investigating and debunking online hoaxes and false claims. Ken helps people learn the skills to figure out what is credible and trustworthy online.

Presented by CIVIX

CIVIX is a non-partisan, Canadian charity dedicated to building the skills and habits of citizenship. 

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