In the past, we trusted our eyes. If there was a photo or a video of something happening, we generally believed it was true. But today, technology has made it possible for anyone to create "synthetic media": images and videos that look and sound real but never actually happened.
You might remember seeing a photo in 2023 of Pope Francis walking down the street in a massive, stylish white puffer jacket. It went viral instantly! Millions of people thought the Pope had a new fashion sense. In reality, the image was created by a guy in Chicago using an AI tool called Midjourney. While this was a harmless prank, it was a "wake-up call" for the world.
In Canada, these fakes have started showing up in more serious ways. Recently, deepfake videos of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former PM Mark Carney have appeared on social media. Scammers used AI to clone their voices and manipulate their lip movements to make it look like they were endorsing fake cryptocurrency schemes. Some people unfortunately lost thousands of dollars because the videos looked so official. By learning to spot the "glitches," you aren't just protecting yourself: you're helping keep your community safe, too.
A Verification Log is the "behind-the-scenes" work diary of a journalist. Since we can't always trust our first impressions of a photo or a story, we use this log to track the steps we took to prove something is actually true.
In your professional career—and even in your daily life—having a process for checking facts keeps you from being fooled by "deepfakes" or misinformation.
Your log doesn't need to be long, but it should be clear. For each piece of media you investigate, you will record:
Then it's your turn to help others navigate this new world! You are going to create a one-page "Field Guide" in Canva that teaches someone else how to spot a digital fake. Don't worry about being perfect; the goal is to explore the tools and share what you find.
Your Instructions:
Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.
Google Doc containing:
Image File (PDF/JPG/PNG):
We are learning to:
Evaluate the credibility of online sources using lateral reading and reverse image searches
Produce clear and coherent writing that explains complex digital concepts to a general audience
Apply proofreading and editing skills to ensure professional communication
Analyse how media techniques are used to create specific perspectives or biases
I can:
Use Google Lens to find the original source of an image and explain its context
Write a clear explanation of how AI is used to manipulate media, using a structure appropriate for my audience
Use appropriate technology to research, format, and cite my findings accurately
Edit and proofread my work to ensure my message is communicated effectively
Identify the strategies I found most helpful for verifying information in a digital environment
| Category | Level 4 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Knowledge / Understanding
How well does the student understand the forms and conventions of digital media and investigative writing?
|
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of media conventions and writing structures | Demonstrates a considerable understanding of media conventions and writing structures | Demonstrates some understanding of media conventions and writing structures | Demonstrates limited understanding of media conventions and writing structures |
|
Thinking / Inquiry
How effectively does the student use digital tools and lateral reading to verify information?
|
Uses advanced search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with a high degree of effectiveness | Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with considerable effectiveness | Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with some effectiveness | Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with limited effectiveness |
|
Communication
How clearly and accurately is the information communicated for the intended audience?
|
Communicates information and ideas with a high degree of clarity and technical accuracy | Communicates information and ideas with considerable clarity and accuracy | Communicates information and ideas with some clarity | Communicates information and ideas with limited clarity |
|
Application
How well does the student apply their research and editing skills to create a professional final product?
|
Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with a high degree of effectiveness | Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with considerable effectiveness | Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with some effectiveness | Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with limited effectiveness |
Demonstrates a thorough understanding of media conventions and writing structures
Demonstrates a considerable understanding of media conventions and writing structures
Demonstrates some understanding of media conventions and writing structures
Demonstrates limited understanding of media conventions and writing structures
Uses advanced search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with a high degree of effectiveness
Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with considerable effectiveness
Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with some effectiveness
Uses search strategies and critical thinking to verify information with limited effectiveness
Communicates information and ideas with a high degree of clarity and technical accuracy
Communicates information and ideas with considerable clarity and accuracy
Communicates information and ideas with some clarity
Communicates information and ideas with limited clarity
Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with a high degree of effectiveness
Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with considerable effectiveness
Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with some effectiveness
Applies research, formatting, and editing skills with limited effectiveness