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E8 G - Source and date matter

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E8 G - Source and date matter

Mini-description: Check the provider and the date of simple digital information. Decide if a source may be current, outdated or unclear.

Media start – 30 seconds: Look at the image. Do not translate every word. Say one thing you notice and one question you have.

English first: “I can see …” / “I wonder …”

German help, if needed: Du musst nicht alles verstehen. Nenne zuerst nur ein sichtbares Detail.

Einleitung

You use digital information every day: a school website, a timetable, a club page, a video or a search result. Before you use the information, check two things:

Provider: Who published it?
Date: When was it published or updated?

Then ask: Does this source fit my question now?

A clear provider and a useful date do not automatically make information correct. They help you decide what to check next. If the provider or date is missing, unclear or too old for your question, cross-check with another suitable source.

Key idea: Old does not always mean bad. A 2019 video about a general checking strategy can still be useful. A 2019 event time is probably not useful for a 2026 event.

I-can goals

By the end, you can say:

I can find the provider of a simple digital source.
I can find the publication or update date.
I can explain: “This source may be useful because …”
I can notice when information may be outdated or unclear.
I can compare two simple sources before I use information.
I can ask for help in English and use German help only when needed.

Before you start: what do you already know?

Try first. You need the bus time for a class trip in 2026. You find two pages:

Page A: “City Bus 14 – school route.” Provider: GreenTown Fans. Updated: 12 May 2022.

Page B: “City Bus 14 – official timetable.” Provider: GreenTown Transport. Updated: 20 August 2026.

Answer in one or two connected sentences: Which page would you check first, and why?

Hint: Use provider + date.

German help: Eine offizielle Stelle und ein aktuelles Datum sind gute Startpunkte. Du solltest wichtige Angaben trotzdem prüfen.

Media lab: look, listen, check

Viewing 1: digital information can mislead

Watch only the first 90 seconds. Listen for the main idea. You do not need every word.

Provider: CrashCourse Published: 8 January 2019 Task: Write one sentence: “The video says digital information can …”

Try → ask → hint: If you miss the idea, watch the same 90 seconds again. Then ask a partner. Only then use this hint: not all online information is reliable.

Date check: The video is from 2019. Is that automatically a problem? No. Its general checking idea can still be useful, but details about websites or platforms may change.

Viewing 2: who is behind the information?

Watch from the start to about 2:30. Focus on who and why.

Provider: CrashCourse Published: 15 January 2019

After watching, complete:

“I should check who is behind the information because …”
“I should also look for …”

Hint: Think about evidence and purpose.

Viewing 3: open another tab

Before the video, predict: What can a second browser tab help you do?

Watch only 1:15–3:15. Then explain the idea of lateral reading in simple English.

Model, after your try: “I leave the page and check what other sources say about it.”

German help, if needed: Du prüfst eine Quelle nicht nur auf ihrer eigenen Seite. Du öffnest weitere Seiten und vergleichst.

Reading

Source cards: school event

The profiles and websites below are fictional. Do not search for private people.

Source A – Northside Youth Blog “River Clean-up Day starts at 10 a.m. Bring gloves.” Provider: Northside Youth Blog Posted: 14 March 2023 Author: “Sam”

Source B – City Environment Office “River Clean-up Day 2026 starts at 9 a.m. Meeting point: Riverside Gate.” Provider: City Environment Office Updated: 2 September 2026

Source C – screenshot shared in a class chat “River Clean-up Day starts at 10 a.m.” Provider: not shown Date: not shown

Your task: You are planning for the 2026 event. Put the sources into these groups: check first, use with caution, unclear. Give one reason for each choice.

Useful language: “The provider is …” “The date is …” “This may be outdated because …” “This is unclear because …” “I would cross-check this with …”

What does the date tell you?

A date is useful only in context.

For an event time, a recent date is often important.
For a definition, an older source may still be useful.
For software instructions, an old date can be a warning because interfaces change.
If there is no date, do not guess. Look for another source or more information.

Quick check: A page from 2021 says, “The museum opens at 9.” You need tomorrow’s opening time. What should you do? Answer: Check the museum’s current official information.

Context vocabulary

English	Meaning in this course	Example
provider	person or organisation that publishes information	The provider is the city library.
source	place where information comes from	I found the claim in a news article.
published	first made public	It was published in 2024.
updated	changed to a newer version	The page was updated yesterday.
current	useful and up to date for the question	We need a current timetable.
outdated	too old for the present question	This event page is outdated.
unclear	not easy to identify or check	The provider is unclear.
evidence	information that supports a claim	The article links to evidence.
cross-check	compare with another source	Cross-check the time on the official page.

Vocabulary rule: Do not learn all words at once. Use the table while you read and speak.

Pronunciation

Speak clearly; accent-free English is not the goal. Being understood is the goal.

proVIder
upDAted
reLIable
CURrent
Evidence

Try: Say: “The provider is clear, but the date is outdated.”

Partner check: Could your partner understand the key words? If yes, communication worked.

Language focus: understand useful forms

At G level, you mainly need to understand the passive and the past perfect here. You do not have to force these forms into your own writing.

Passive – receptive: “The page was updated in 2026.” Meaning: Someone updated the page. The action is important.

Past perfect – receptive: “The club had posted the old time before the event changed.” Meaning: First the club posted the time. Later the event changed.

Reported speech without backshift: Maya says, “The source is old.” → Maya says the source is old. Leo says, “I need another source.” → Leo says he needs another source.

Mini-check: In “The page had been published before the rule changed,” what happened first? Answer: The page was published first.

Listening task: two speakers, one decision

Ask a teacher or partner to read the short script below aloud at a moderate speed twice. Do not look at the script during the first two listens.

First listen – gist: What are Ava and Ben trying to find?

Second listen – details: Note the provider, the date and their decision.

Only after your second listen – transcript:

Ava: “I found a page about the school sports day. It says the start is at nine.” Ben: “Who is the provider?” Ava: “It says ‘West Park Students’. The page was updated in 2024.” Ben: “Our sports day is in 2026. Let’s check the school website too.” Ava: “Good idea. The school page says 8:30 and it was updated last week.” Ben: “Then I would use the school page for the current time.”

Check: They are looking for the current sports-day start time. They choose the school page because the provider fits the question and the date is more useful.

Speaking

Two-source talk

Work with a partner. Use the fictional Source Cards.

Student A: choose one source. Student B: ask three questions:

“Who is the provider?”
“What is the date?”
“Would you use it? Why?”

Then switch roles.

Goal: Give connected statements, not single words. Example: “I would not use it yet because the provider is unclear. I would cross-check it.”

Hint: reason words: because, but, so.

Writing

Short email: recommend a source

Write 70–90 words to a classmate. Your classmate needs the correct time for the fictional River Clean-up Day 2026.

Structure:

Subject: River Clean-up Day source

Hi …, I checked two sources. The first source is … Its provider/date is … The second source is … I would use … because … I would still cross-check … Best, …

Success check: provider + date + decision + reason.

Short report: source check

Write 80–100 words about one simple digital source.

Use these parts: Source – Provider – Date – What it says – My check – My decision

You may use sentence starters, but you do not need one for every sentence.

Mediation

Your German-speaking partner asks: “Kann ich diese englische Seite für unseren Ausflug nutzen?”

Read this fictional note:

“Lakeview Visitor Centre – winter opening hours. Provider: Lakeview Council. Updated: 18 October 2026.”

Give the important information in German in two short sentences. Do not translate every word.

Possible solution after your try: Die Seite stammt vom Lakeview Council und wurde am 18. Oktober 2026 aktualisiert. Für Winteröffnungszeiten wirkt sie passend, aber die konkrete Uhrzeit sollte trotzdem geprüft werden.

A simple check routine

Remember P-D-C:

P – Provider: Who published it?
D – Date: When was it published or updated?
C – Cross-check: If it matters or seems unclear, compare another suitable source.

Do not judge a source only by design, likes, followers or a confident tone.

AI and digital tools

AI can help you practise language, but it can make mistakes and may invent facts or sources.

Check important facts with suitable sources.
Check the level of AI language: Is it understandable for you?
Use AI feedback to improve your text, not to replace your own thinking or writing.
Do not enter private social-media data.
Recordings are voluntary and should stay private unless your teacher has a safe plan.
Do not upload recordings, photos or texts to external AI services without permission.

Your rule: My text first – tool second – check again.

Direct feedback and error analysis

If you did this …	Improve it like this …
“It looks professional, so it is true.”	Check provider, date and another suitable source.
“It is old, so it is wrong.”	Ask whether the date matters for this exact question.
“There is no date, but it is probably new.”	Do not guess. Mark the date as unclear.
“The provider is a person online.”	Ask who the person or organisation is and whether they fit the topic.
“AI gave me a source, so the source exists.”	Open and check the source yourself.

Fast feedback: If your answer names provider + date + reason, you have used the core strategy.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should you check first on a simple digital source? (The provider and the date) (!The colour and the font) (!The number of emojis) (!The size of the picture)

What does provider mean in this course? (The person or organisation that publishes the information) (!The person who reads the information) (!The device used to open the page) (!The colour of the website)

A 2022 event page is used for a 2026 event. What is the best first thought? (The information may be outdated) (!The information must be correct) (!The information is new) (!The date does not matter)

A source has no visible date. What should you do? (Mark the date as unclear and check another source) (!Invent a likely date) (!Use the source because it looks modern) (!Ignore the missing date)

What is a good reason to cross-check information? (The provider or date is unclear) (!The page has a blue background) (!The text is short) (!The title is in English)

Which sentence gives a reason? (I would use it because the provider is official) (!The provider is the library) (!The date is 2026) (!This is a website)

What does outdated mean? (Too old for the present question) (!Written in another language) (!Very long) (!Easy to read)

Which action is lateral reading? (Opening other sources to check a page) (!Reading the same page from top to bottom only) (!Looking only at the logo) (!Counting the pictures)

What is the best rule for AI-generated source suggestions? (Open and check the source yourself) (!Trust every source name) (!Copy the answer without checking) (!Upload private data first)

Which statement about old sources is correct? (An older source can still be useful depending on the question) (!Every old source is false) (!Dates never matter) (!A new source is always correct)

Memory

provider	who publishes the information
date	when information was published or updated
current	useful and up to date for the question
outdated	too old for the present question
cross-check	compare with another suitable source
evidence	information that supports a claim

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Provider	Who published it?
Date	When was it published or updated?
Current	Useful for the question now
Outdated	Too old for the present question
Cross-check	Compare another suitable source

Kreuzworträtsel

Provider	Who publishes the information?
Current	Which word means useful and up to date for the question?
Evidence	What supports a claim?
Outdated	Which word means too old for the present question?
Source	Where does information come from?
Reliable	Which word can describe information you can reasonably depend on after checking?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Source check card: Choose one school-safe website and write down provider, date and one sentence about whether the date fits your question.
Date detective: Find three dates on a public information page and explain what each date means: publication, update or event date.
Media freeze-frame: Pause one course video and note what tells you who the provider is.
Speak for 30 seconds: Explain P-D-C to a partner using provider, date and cross-check.

Standard

Two-source comparison: Compare two public sources about the same simple topic. Give a reasoned choice without calling one source perfect.
Fictional source cards: Create two fictional source cards: one clear and current, one unclear or outdated. Exchange them with a partner for checking.
Email task: Write an 80-word email that recommends one source and explains why its provider and date fit the task.
Mini interview: Ask a librarian or teacher how they check dates on websites. Take notes; do not record without permission.

Schwer

Lateral reading mini-project: Start with an unfamiliar public website and use two other sources to find out who is behind it. Document only public information.
Update problem: Find an example where an old date changes the usefulness of information, such as opening hours, software instructions or an event page. Explain the risk.
AI source audit: Ask an approved AI tool for two public sources only if your teacher permits it. Open every source, check provider and date, and note any AI error. Do not enter personal data.
Video explanation: Make a private 60–90 second explanation of P-D-C. Recording is voluntary; keep it private unless a safe class process is agreed.

Lernkontrolle

Source decision: You have one official page from 2024 and one community page from 2026 about a 2026 event. Explain what else you need to know before deciding which information to use.
Date in context: Explain why a 2019 definition can still be useful while a 2019 timetable may not be useful now.
Unclear source: A screenshot has a claim but no provider and no date. Describe two next steps and explain why they help.
Transfer to AI: An AI gives you a source title and a date. Explain how you would verify both before using the information in schoolwork.
Language transfer: Read “The page was updated after the event had changed.” Explain in simple English or German which event happened first and what the passive tells you.
Decision with reasons: Compare two fictional sources and give a short spoken or written decision using because, but or so.

Can-do check

Mark one box for each statement:

I can …	Not yet	With help	Yes
find the provider	□	□	□
find and interpret the date	□	□	□
notice unclear or possibly outdated information	□	□	□
give a reason for my source choice	□	□	□
cross-check with another suitable source	□	□	□

If you marked “Not yet”, repeat one Source Card and use the hint. If you marked “With help”, try the same task with one less hint.

Lernnachweis

For a learning record, show that you can:

identify provider and date on a simple digital source,
explain whether the date fits the question,
notice unclear or possibly outdated information,
cross-check an important claim,
give a short spoken and written reason,
use English first and ask for support when needed,
handle AI and personal data carefully.

A good learning record can be a short source-check sheet plus one 80-word text and a brief teacher or partner conversation. No public upload is needed.

OERs zum Thema

The German Wikipedia article gives background on information literacy.

On Wikimedia Commons, file description pages show information such as source, author, date and licence. Use these details when you reuse media.

Media notes

The course uses freely reusable Wikimedia Commons files where the file page provides the licence information. The YouTube videos are embedded for viewing; do not copy or re-upload them.