Blog #2 - Informational Literacy and Student Learning
After reading and watching the material that was presented to us in this module, it is clear to see how
the concepts information literacy, technology and digital media intersect. Information literacy can be
defined as being able to find information, evaluate it, then be able to organize it in a way to present to
your audience. To me, this definition naturally lends itself to the intertwinement of technology and
digital media because they are both resources that we use to gather information. When I started
reading about the six frames of information literacy, I started to think how technology and digital
media apply to these frames. Each of these 6 frames can apply to any and all digital media and
technology. Research as inquiry, for example, applies using a data base or Google to seek answers.
The process is the same, focus on a problem, find existing and conflicting information and find
multiple perspectives so that you can formulate you own understanding of the world.
The Liturgists podcast was spot on! Who doesn't like a good conspiracy theory? What I loved about
this podcast was when the described the red flags when looking at whether something was true or not.
To me, it is sad that we have to always keep this in the back of our mind when trying to find answers to
our questions. Joyce Valenza said it the clearest of all when she stated that, "we are guaranteed free
press but not neutral or true press" (Valenza, 2016).
This past year, my fifth grade teachers wanted me to do a lesson on reliable resources on the
internet. To be honest, it was hard to find ideas or content that was suitable for this age group that they
could relate to. The only thing that I could find was a website that advocated for saving the Northwest
Tree Octopus. Now we all know that this is fake, but now after listening to the podcast my students
and I can really dive into this and ask all the questions like who is the author? Where and when was it
published? Is it well written? Do we need to see if there are other sources that support this kind of
animal? (triangulation)
As for my informational diet, I would say it is pretty balanced. Now I will admit I can go down a
deep rabbit hole on social media, but I like to use my gut when digesting information, or as the podcast
states I use my upstairs brain. When things that I read or watch don't feel right, I usually stop which is
using my downstairs brain. On TV, I usually watch our local news. Any other news format depresses
me.
Hi Heather! Great post. I also really enjoyed the podcast and appreciated the red flags to look for. I hadn't considered that when "numbers" were present, we tended to "believe" that article more, but it totally makes sense. Your lesson on fake news/reliable sources sounds like a great starting point for a "good" look into that type of information.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather! I enjoyed reading your blog post this week. I agree with you that I really enjoyed the Liturgists podcast this week and think that many valid points were made. I agree that it is disheartening to have to think about whether the information that we are hearing or reading is true. A statement that stuck out to me was thinking about if the information makes you sad or angry. It also reminded me to think about the source the information is coming from. Is there an author listed? Is it free of errors? I think that fact checking by using different sources is very essential. I hadn't really thought about the information diet vs. food diet and the meanings behind them before listening to the podcast. I am with you and think that I do a pretty good job of using my upstairs brain to judge information coming in, but if something doesn't sit well, I most certainly turn to other sources to check information. Thank you for the Northwest Tree Octopus link. I am looking forward to checking it out, as I will also be teaching fifth graders this year.
ReplyDeleteHello Heather,
ReplyDeleteI too, can go down a deep rabbit hole with social media but I try to remember where this information is originating from. I do like a good debate so I will usually bring up something I saw on social media during dinner with my family to get their take on it. It sparks a good debate and conversation. I always start out with “allegedly” so everyone knows my source may be unreliable.
Hi Heather! I really liked how you used the podcast questions with the Northwest Tree Octopus! That is a fantastic way to convey the concepts of valid, trustworthy information when questioning something that is not. I agree that many news sources can be overwhelming. It seems like in order for news organizations to maintain advertising budgets, the goal is to keep viewers engaged regardless of how it affects their mental health. This seems like a mighty unkind way to deliver news. Perhaps the more we teach positive media consumption, the less our society will fall for the outrage trap in many news outlets.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI've used the Northwest Tree Octopus in the past, but I really like the idea of incorporating some of the questions used in the podcast to discern reliable information. As a history teacher, I tend to use similar questioning when looking at primary and secondary sources, but we rarely talk about whether the source we're examining is reliable. I'm hoping to use more of the podcast questions in my future teaching as well. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI love that you worked with the fifth grade teachers to come up with a lesson that addresses these serious topics. Students must be taught these skills as they do not just come naturally. It made me think about how this would be a great library program to offer in the public library as people of all ages struggle with discerning real from fake news. Also, I agree that the podcast was awesome. It was interesting that they started off by listing a bunch of conspiracy theories and it made me realize how much false information is truly available for consumption. Seeing as I had heard all of those theories before, I also realized how fast and wide that misinformation can spread.
Thanks for sharing,
Cora Land
I love the Northwest Tree Octopus lesson. It can really be hard to find lessons on fake news that are appropriate for elementary students. In my class, we talked about someone needing to be an expert and what really made them an expert in their field.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteThe Northwest Tree Octopus lesson is great! After reading this blog and another, I now have multiple resources to use with kids about fake news. Great job getting them engaged by looking for authors, publishers, and related materials. Excellent work!