Course Info: Severe Storms Sleuthing 101: Investigating Science in the Media

Severe Storms Sleuthing 101: Investigating Science in the Media

Course Description

You see a post including a link to a news story and some promotional text leading into it. Do you comment on the post? Do you share it?

A new 1-hour lesson from the COMET Program, "Severe Storms Sleuthing 101: Investigating Science in the Media," introduces introductory undergraduate students and others to everyday applications of scientific thinking (no background in meteorology is required). Learners evaluate four social media posts and news headlines by applying the SIFT (Stop, Investigate, Find, Trace) digital literacy method. For each post headline, they determine whether the source is credible and whether the information can be supported by evidence. Learners are also introduced to vetted sources for local temperature and regional temperature trends and information about how and where changes in severe convective storm hazards (intense rainfall, tornadoes, and hail) are being observed.

Intended Course Audience

University undergraduate students are the primary intended audience, but this lesson can be taken by anyone with an interest in honing their social media literacy skills. 

Publication Date

May 29, 2025

Comments or Questions? 

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