Differentiating between reliable websites, books, information has always been a topic in classrooms. Kids tend to think if a site is at the top of the Google hit list, it is the most reliable. It requires teaching to explain why that isn’t true. What has increased in the last decade is the prevalence of ‘fake new’, what used to be called ‘yellow journalism’, where news is presented ina way that garners views and clicks rather than disseminates the truth.
Education Week tackles this issue as a teacher describes efforts to defeat fake news online. Here the article:
TikTok Is Feeding My Students Fake News About Ukraine. How Can Truth Win?
Students prefer images instead of written analysis of world events, which Chris Doyle, a teacher at a Connecticut school, describes as “TikTok over The New York Times.” Yet, Doyle writes in this blog post that imagery can be deceptive, fabricated and even outright propaganda, as Doyle works to debunk them, leading to concerns about the information students are consuming.
Ask a Tech Teacher has quite a few articles and resources on this topic. Here are a few:
- Resources to teach about fake news
- Fake News or Fact? How do you tell?
- A Lesson Plan for Addressing What’s in the News
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.
I ask my students, “How many of you believe everything that you see and hear on the internet?” Then I say, “Those who don’t believe everything on the internet, please explain why.” A lively class discussion ensues.
I like that idea, Rich. Learning from each other is the best way.