News Literacy Project Resource Library
Product by The News Literacy Project
Facts checked: Not yet checked
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating). This label applies to learning-science judgments throughout this overview.
Our take (not a Learning Standard rating)
While The Learning Standard has not yet formally evaluated the News Literacy Project Resource Library, its reliance on direct instruction and authentic examples strongly supports critical thinking skills. It teaches media literacy effectively through real-world scenarios, but requires significant educator facilitation to ensure students actively apply the concepts rather than passively consuming content.
Pros
- Uses worked examples of real news articles to model fact-checking behaviors.
- Integrates multimedia interactive lessons that accommodate varying reading levels and keep students engaged.
- Provides comprehensive educator materials that support blended learning and guided practice.
- Encourages cognitive scaffolding by breaking complex media concepts into manageable, discrete lessons.
Cons
- Relies heavily on educator facilitation, making it less effective for independent, self-directed student learning.
- Lacks spaced repetition mechanics to ensure long-term retention of fact-checking strategies.
- Passive consumption of video content can lead to cognitive overload without frequent checks for understanding.
- Not currently evaluated by The Learning Standard, so specific pedagogical efficacy data is pending.
What Do We Know About News Literacy Project Resource Library?
The News Literacy Project Resource Library is an effective tool for teaching media literacy when guided by an educator or parent, though it is not designed for solitary student play. Your child will learn how to identify misinformation, understand bias, and verify sources through the platform's Checkology virtual classroom. The curriculum uses direct instruction paired with authentic, real-world examples of news and social media posts. This approach aligns with the learning science principle of worked examples, demonstrating expert problem-solving steps before asking students to perform them. Parents should know that these modules require active discussion to maximize learning. If your child clicks through videos passively, they will not retain the analytical skills needed to navigate modern media. To get the best results, sit with your child, pause the interactive lessons, and ask them to explain their reasoning when evaluating a source. The platform provides quizzes to test immediate comprehension, but you will need to reinforce these concepts in daily life to achieve long-term knowledge transfer. The Learning Standard has not yet formally evaluated this resource, but its structured approach to a complex topic provides a solid foundation for building critical thinking skills.
How Does News Literacy Project Resource Library Work?
The News Literacy Project Resource Library uses direct instruction and blended learning to teach students how to critically evaluate media. Educators and parents assign specific modules within the Checkology virtual classroom, which focus on topics like the First Amendment, algorithm bias, or identifying deepfakes. Students progress through multimedia presentations where journalists and experts explain core concepts. After receiving this foundational knowledge, students apply their skills to real-world examples, categorizing authentic social media posts and news articles. The platform uses formative assessments, such as short quizzes and drag-and-drop activities, to measure immediate comprehension. Because the system relies heavily on teacher integration, it includes extension activities, posters, and classroom discussion guides. This design shifts the cognitive load from the software to the classroom environment, requiring educators to facilitate debate and deeper analysis. Students do not navigate an adaptive pathway; instead, they follow a linear, teacher-directed curriculum that builds media literacy concepts sequentially.
Strengths and tradeoffs of News Literacy Project Resource Library
The biggest strength of the News Literacy Project Resource Library is its use of authentic, real-world media examples, while its biggest weakness is the lack of built-in spaced repetition to guarantee long-term retention. Authentic learning is highly effective here; by analyzing actual social media posts and news clips, students practice skills in the exact context they will use them outside the classroom. This promotes strong knowledge transfer. Furthermore, the platform's use of worked examples helps reduce cognitive overload. Experts break down exactly how they fact-check a claim, providing a cognitive scaffold for novices to follow. However, the platform is heavily dependent on the educator. Passive learning becomes a risk if students merely watch the videos without engaging in the guided discussions or extension activities. The system also lacks retrieval practice over time. Once a student finishes a module on identifying bias, the software does not systematically test them on that concept weeks later. To build durable memory, educators must manually reintroduce these topics throughout the school year. While The Learning Standard is still pending a formal evaluation of this tool, the instructional design is sound provided teachers actively manage the learning process.
Who Might Benefit From News Literacy Project Resource Library?
The News Literacy Project Resource Library is best for middle and high school educators who want a structured, evidence-based curriculum to teach media literacy in a classroom setting. It targets students in grades 4 through 12, though the complex topics are most appropriate for grades 6 and up. It is an ideal resource for social studies, civics, or English teachers who need ready-made, highly relevant lesson plans to integrate into existing syllabi. It is not an independent learning game for young children, but rather a robust academic tool for older students learning to navigate the modern information ecosystem.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
News Literacy Project Resource Library does not meet our data transparency standard. Its privacy policy does not document basic protections, including a statement that it does not sell data, a commitment against targeted advertising and limits on sharing children's data.
6 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated September 2026
Privacy Policy →Level 1 · Basic protections
Does not sell data or target ads at students, limits sharing, and lets parents see and delete their child's data.
Not documented: a statement that it does not sell data, a commitment against targeted advertising, limits on sharing children's data, contractual limits on service providers, a COPPA or FERPA commitment, parents' right to see their child's data, parents' right to delete their child's data
Level 2 · Parent control (meets the standard)
Families can get their data out, know who processes it, and know how long it is kept.
Not documented: data export, a data retention timeline, self-service deletion
Level 3 · Direct data access
Families or schools can pull their own data through an API, in a stated format.
Not documented: an API for retrieving their own data, a named export format
View all 35 checks
Parent Access1/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
The policy does not mention parents.
Can parents view their child's data?
The policy gives parents no right to view their child's data, and it excludes Checkology student users.
Can parents modify their child's data?
The policy gives parents no right to modify their child's data.
Can parents delete their child's account?
The policy gives parents no right to delete their child's data or account.
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“The Sites are not intended for children under the age of 18, except that students may be invited by a teacher to use our **Checkology®** virtual classroom.”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
The policy does not mention COPPA.
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
The policy does not mention FERPA.
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
The policy does not address parental consent; it sends student data questions to a separate Checkology Student Privacy Notice.
Data Portability1/5
Can users access their personal data?
“If you would like to submit a data access, correction, restriction, or deletion request, or an objection, you can do so by contacting NLP at [info@newslit.org](mailto:info@newslit.org) and we will process such request”
Can users download/export their data?
The policy does not offer a way to download or export data.
Is there a self-service data access tool?
The policy describes access only by email request, not through a self-service tool.
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
The policy does not name any export format.
Is there an API for data access?
The policy does not mention an API for data access.
Data Minimization1/6
Is data collection itemized?
“Certain information is collected by most browsers, such as your Media Access Control (MAC) address, computer type and operating system type and version screen resolution, and Internet browser type and version.”
Can the app be used without a real name?
The policy does not say the service can be used without a real name.
Can the app be used without an email?
The policy says it collects email addresses, for example for newsletter sign-ups.
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
The policy does not say collection is limited to what is necessary.
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
The policy says IP addresses are used to find general location and does not say they are anonymized or truncated.
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
The policy says it uses IP addresses to determine the general physical location of devices.
Third-Party Protection2/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
The policy does not state that NLP does not sell personal information.
Are third-party providers named?
“We use third-party cookies set by our service provider, Google Analytics, to collect information about how visitors use the Sites”
Are providers contractually restricted?
The policy says it does not allow Google to use or share its analytics data, but it does not describe contractual restrictions on service providers.
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
The policy does not address targeted advertising.
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
The policy does not address AI or machine learning.
Child-specific sharing restriction?
The policy has no sharing restrictions specific to children; it refers student data to a separate notice.
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“You can refuse our use of some or all cookies by turning off the use of cookies in your web browser.”
Deletion & Retention1/5
Can users delete their account?
“If you would like to submit a data access, correction, restriction, or deletion request, or an objection, you can do so by contacting NLP at [info@newslit.org](mailto:info@newslit.org) and we will process such request”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
The policy describes deletion only by email request, not through a self-service tool.
Specific data retention timeline?
The policy says data is kept as long as it is relevant, with no specific timeline.
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
The policy does not address automatic deletion of inactive accounts.
Post-deletion handling described?
The policy does not describe what happens to data after deletion.
Advertising0/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
The policy does not disclose an advertising model.
Free from third-party advertisements?
The policy does not say whether the Sites show third-party ads.
Children excluded from ad targeting?
The policy does not address ad targeting of children.
Ad-free option available?
The policy does not address advertising or an ad-free option.
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Privacy Policy against 35 policy-disclosure questions, including questions adapted from the Common Sense Privacy Program's published evaluation questions. TLS is not affiliated with Common Sense Media, and this is not a Common Sense rating. Quoted text is copied from the policy; unquoted notes are our summary. Results describe what the policy documents, not the company's actual practices. Privacy policies can change: this review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how News Literacy Project Resource Library works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About News Literacy Project Resource Library
Is the News Literacy Project Resource Library free?
Yes, the News Literacy Project Resource Library is completely free for both educators and students. As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, the creators provide full access to the Checkology virtual classroom, lesson plans, posters, and interactive activities at no cost. This makes it a highly accessible tool for school districts and parents looking to introduce high-quality civic education without budget constraints.
Is the News Literacy Project Resource Library good for elementary students?
Partially, but it is best suited for older students. While the developer states the platform covers grades 4 through 12, the cognitive demands of evaluating media bias, algorithmic amplification, and the First Amendment require a level of abstract thinking more common in middle and high school. Parents of 4th and 5th graders will need to heavily scaffold the material and guide their children through the lessons step-by-step.
What does the News Literacy Project Resource Library teach?
The News Literacy Project Resource Library teaches critical thinking, fact-checking, and media literacy skills. Your child will learn how to distinguish between news and opinion, identify various types of misinformation, understand the role of a free press in a democracy, and evaluate the credibility of sources. The curriculum uses direct instruction and real-world examples to help students navigate the digital information landscape responsibly.
How does the News Literacy Project Resource Library compare to generic media literacy worksheets?
The News Literacy Project Resource Library is significantly more engaging and effective than static worksheets. Instead of just reading definitions, students interact with multimedia presentations from real journalists and analyze actual social media posts. This authentic context improves knowledge transfer, meaning your child is far more likely to apply these critical thinking skills when they browse the internet on their own time.
Has The Learning Standard evaluated News Literacy Project Resource Library?
TLS has not yet completed a Learning Standard evaluation of how well News Literacy Project Resource Library teaches. Its privacy policy has been reviewed for Data Transparency and does not yet document the basic protections (Level 1).
Is News Literacy Project Resource Library COPPA compliant?
A COPPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with COPPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention COPPA.
Is News Literacy Project Resource Library FERPA compliant?
A FERPA reference was not found in the reviewed privacy policy. This does not determine whether the app complies with FERPA. Policy review note: The policy does not mention FERPA.
Does News Literacy Project Resource Library have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: The policy has its own section headed "Information about children."
Does News Literacy Project Resource Library sell student data?
A statement ruling out data selling was not found in the reviewed policy. This does not establish that the app sells student data. Policy review note: The policy does not state that NLP does not sell personal information.
Can you delete your data from News Literacy Project Resource Library?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: Users can ask NLP by email to delete their data.
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