#alternativefacts
~~Teaching Students How to Evaluate News and Information~~
“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” ― Mark Twain
Purpose
Why do students need this skill?
Teaching news literacy skills does not apply to just news from social media. It is a great opportunity for cross discipline collaborations. English language arts can integrate news literacy skills while teaching close reading, annotating, comprehension and writing. Social studies can integrate news literacy skills while teaching inquiry skills, close examination of history, world perspectives, government and cultures. Math, science and arts can integrate news literacy skills while understanding and creating data, charts, infographics and sharing that knowledge with the stakeholders.
What are the definitions?
Propaganda (noun): Information that is often exaggerated or false and spread for the purpose of benefiting or promoting a specific individual or cause.
Fake news is, quite simply, news (“material reported in a newspaper or news periodical or on a newscast”) that is fake (“false, counterfeit”)
Spin Journalism (noun): News and information that is manipulated or slanted to affect its interpretation and influence public opinion.
Media Bias/Lean: A political bias in journalistic reporting, in programming selection, or otherwise in mass communications media.
Satire: the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Confirmation Bias: the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
What resources can we use to teach our students this important skill?
Together we will explore some of the linked resources below before moving on to the "Deep Dive".
Pair up and "deep dive" the articles from Kahoot!
Activity: (35 mins)
- Pair up
- Select one or more of the 8 articles or the "Tree Octopus" website
- "Deep Dive" and discuss ways you will use the resources shared in your classroom/school to teach news literacy, evaluating sources, and thinking critically. You can create a lesson plan, google presentation, video, podcast, Kahoot!, Canvas Course, Google Classroom etc.
- Share your idea on the Padlet for this session.
Articles:
- Passenger allowed onto flight after security confiscate his bomb
- Woman defecates on boss' desk
- Kim Jong Un prepares for war against America
- Winner of French scrabble does not speak French
- Toe stolen from hotel
- Fidget spinners are deadly
- Mysterious Whale
- First Cordless Satellite launched
- Save the Tree Octopus
Resources for Teachers
Resources for Students
Christine Clark
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District
Email: christinek.clark@cms.k12.nc.us
Location: Charlotte, NC, United States
Twitter: @christinekclark