About The Site
"News Sleuths" is designed to teach students to think critically about what they read in newspapers and magazines. The content of the site is most appropriate for students in grades 5-8. By reviewing the lessons, participating in the on-line activities, and exploring the various resources provided, students can learn to recognize bias in print news, analyze and evaluate the validity of media content and sources, and lastly, write, edit, and revise their own news stories. "News Sleuths" also provides the opportunity for "Junior Sleuths" to communicate with other students around the globe to compare strategies and share drafts of their original news stories. Students can also send examples of their work to teachers, parents, or to the newspaper of their choice through the easy links we have created.
The site will most effectively accomplish its learning objective of helping students to think critically about what they read in newspapers and magazines if the lessons are incorporated into the curriculum of elementary and middle school classrooms with help and guidance from teachers. We have tried to make the lessons short enough so that teachers feel that they can easily integrate the activities into their daily schedules. Teachers will also be able to download lesson plans and handouts that correspond with the site to help their students critically evaluate the media.
About the Creators:
This site was created by three students enrolled in the Technology in Education program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education for the class T525: Building Web-Based Environment for Education.
A Great Team!
Jennifer Milner - This technology savvy woman is responsible for the graphic design that makes this site look as good as it does. Her intellectual genius made the interactive activities included in the hands-on examples pages possible.
Robyn Viloria - Her journalism background inspired all of the lesson ideas that they rest of the site revolved around. She was the hub of our "News Sleuths" wheel.
Lesley Reilly - Lesley's experience as a classroom teacher gave her the necessary skills to develop all of those meaningful lessons you will find on the Teachers site. She kept the "News Sleuths" team on task and made sure that everyone stayed in their seats.