How to Think Like a Fact-Checker with Joel Breakstone

In this episode of Misguided, Dr. Joel Breakstone, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Digital Inquiry Group, joins me to discuss how we can better equip students to evaluate online information in an era of misinformation and AI-driven content. We explore the challenges of digital literacy, why some traditional fact-checking methods fall short, and evidence-based strategies—such as lateral reading—that actually help students distinguish credible sources from misinformation. Dr. Breakstone also shares insights from his research on how fact-checkers, students, and academics approach online sources differently, and what educators can do to integrate digital literacy into existing curricula. If you're interested in how we can teach people to think critically—rather than just telling them what to think—this episode is for you.

Digital Inquiry Group

Dr. Breakstone’s Google Scholar

Keywords:

digital literacy, media literacy, misinformation, fact-checking, lateral reading, critical thinking, online information, disinformation, civic online reasoning, education, Joel Breakstone, Stanford History Education Group, Digital Inquiry Group

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