Literacy, technology, and digital/media intersect as we rely more and more on technology, either as a consumer, producer, or both. As a school library media specialist, I believe it is the collaborative effort of educators to ensure that students are just as educated in the area information literacy as other content areas and literacies. According to the Framework for 21st Century Learning (2015), with the proper foundation and supports, including professional development and learning environment, students will be more engaged and ready for college or career.
I was aware of the term fake news, but this week’s readings and the Fake News & Media Literacy podcast (2017) really gave me a lot to think about, with great facts and tips to pass on to students, teachers, and even family and friends. I have a few FB friends who like to share so-called news without checking the date or source. Clay Johnson, guest on the Liturgists Podcast (2017) suggests spending cognitive energy on local matters instead of focusing too much on national news, or news from social media or noncredible sources, especially in today’s political climate. Johnson also suggested that we spend time being informed locally, reach out to the elected officials closest to us, and treat our neighbors and those with differing political views with kindness. Those steps would be one way to improve our media culture and positively shape our democracy. The article, Truth, Truthiness, Triangulation: A News Literacy for a “Post-Truth” World provided additional tools that I can use for professional development sessions or classroom instruction (Valenza, 2016).
As far as my information diet is concerned, I am currently on a social media fast. While taking graduate coursework, I don’t spend much time on social media or surfing the web, as it is too easy to lose track of time. I’m quite skeptical about news posts on social media, and very rarely click on those “too good to be true” headlines. My thinking is that those strange url addresses would lead to malware or a virus, but now I know most of the sites are just getting extra revenue for each click. As far as news is concerned, I’m somewhat old fashioned and like to watch the news on television. I mostly watch local news, and national news that is not on a 24 hour cycle.
Sources:
Framework for 21st Century Learning. (2015) Retrieved from https://blackboard.sc.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-13049461-dt-content-rid-94287088_2/courses/SLIS761-000-FALL-2019/P21_framework_0515.pdf
The Liturgists Podcast. (2017, March 7). Fake news & media literacy. Retrieved from https://theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/3/7/fake-news-media-literacy
Valenza, J. (2016). Truth, truthiness, triangulation: A news literacy for a “post-truth” world. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blogs.slj.com/neverendingsearch/2016/11/26/truth-truthiness-triangulation-and-the-librarian-way-a-news-literacy-toolkit-for-a-post-truth-world/
Kennita,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post. The Valenza article is a great one to pass on to others as it is to the point and easy to understand how truth can change in the media. I, too, felt like the podcast this week was eye-opening. I liked how Clay Johnson tied the topic back to having good character and being open-minded. If we approach news, in whatever format, with an open-mind and kindness, much of what we see online would change tones. I also liked how the podcast addressed how angry people can be online in response to opinions. I think the reason I have typically shied away from social media is the fact that people are more brazen with their words when they are hiding behind a keyboard. Do you feel a difference in your information flow or productivity taking a break from social media? I think you are correct about time flying when we are on our phones. Nice post Kennita!
Ashley Dawkins
Kennita,
ReplyDeleteIt is apparent that in order to progress in today's society, one must be prepared with informational and technical literacy skills. I agree with you that librarians and fellow educators must teach these necessary skills to students in order to prepare them. Prior to this week's readings and Podcast, I was not aware of all of the techniques to prevent students from engaging in fake news, as noted in the Valenza article. My information diet is very similar to yours as I always tend to check with credible sources such as the local news in regards to information.
First, good for you for being on a social media fast. I need to work on that. Once you have established a habit of engaging regularly with social media, it's hard to abstain.
ReplyDeleteI also really appreciated the points given in the podcast about how to determine if news was factual. The tip to focus on local news was something that I had never considered. It is much easier to make contact with local news sources and the people in the news than those in national news.
-Shanna Hunt