Question: Mr. Vanko is marking student assignments and keeps finding incorrect facts supported by unreliable sources. What should he explain to his students about finding online sources?
- Verify all online information with textbooks
- Check the integrity of the author, and whether they are an expert on the topic
- Contact the author directly to understand their research
- Check that the website looks reputable and professional
- They shouldn’t trust any information found online
Explanation
Reliable research depends on evaluating source quality before using information. Google Search guidance emphasizes checking the creator or organization behind a source for credibility and expertise. Site appearance can support an initial trust check, but it should be considered with authorship, evidence, date, and purpose. This reflects digital citizenship practices for responsible use of online information.
Why the other options are incorrect
Textbooks are useful references, but they are not the only valid way to verify online information.
Direct author contact is unnecessary for routine source evaluation and is not practical.
Rejecting all online information ignores credible digital sources that can be evaluated responsibly.
Source for verification
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/12003459?hl=en
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