Connections: What is Information Literacy and How Do Technology and Digital Media connect?
Based on the P21 Framework Definitions from the P21 Partnership for 21st Century Learning, information literacy is how we access, evaluate, use, and manage information. Media literacy consists of analyzing media in order to understand how media messages can be perceived and interpreted, as well as creating appropriate media products. Technology literacy is how we use the tools effectively to "research, organize, evaluate, and communicate information." Framework suggests, "information literacy as an overarching set of abilities in which students are consumers and creators of information who can participate successfully in collaborative spaces." As we prepare students for higher education, we must, as educators and facilitators of knowledge, understand that
"Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning."
(Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education)
Image: Media and Information Literacy
Source: Council of Europe, 2024
"and now here we are in a world where a term like alternative facts can be uttered in full sincerity."
-The Liturgists Podcast
Here are several books I have used in the library setting to talk to students about this topic of fake news.
by Elise Gravel
The podcast is full of information that you and I, as school librarians and media specialists, can use to help our students navigate "what is truth? " (The Liturgists Podcast, 2017) We must teach our students how to discern what is fake news and what is real news, and also how to spot bias in the news and media. The Liturgists Podcast gave us a list of several things we can do to spot fake news such as look to see if the article names the author, where was it published, is there an editorial review board that holds the author accountable, look for a date of publication, are sources named, and is it well written? I loved the tips shared and hope to make a chart or bookmark of some sort to share in the school library.
"So the way we want to counter media bias is one, to view all media with skepticism, and two, to cross check with other media that has different biases."
-The Liturgists Podcast
In closing, we must consume a healthy, balanced information and media diet. Just as you would not eat a diet consisting of entirely junk food, we must not consume all of our information from one source, especially one that is serving us "junk". We should aim to eat a well balanced diet consisting of a variety of foods, we too, must think about the information we are taking in and aim to fill our minds with information from credible sources from a variety of media and news outlets, creating a well-balanced diet of information. School librarians should work hard to remain neutral when digesting information and serving it to our patrons as well. The Liturgist Podcast really had me stop and think about what I view and take in on a daily basis. I do not watch much national news-- CNN or Fox News, nor do I read much from The New Yorker or similar newspapers or magazines. I rely mostly on local news, which was the suggestion from the podcasters. However, I did stop and reflect on what I view on social media such as Facebook. This can be a dangerous place to discover your news, especially if it is your only source of news information. The podcasters warn against news and information that creates anger or fear, and this was a helpful tip to take away. We must be mindful of the choices we are making and strive to be consumers of positive, helpful, and healthy information. In turn, we can be a positive influence to those around us.
How can we focus on our local community and make an impact on those around us?
Citations:
"Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education", American Library Association, February 9, 2015
https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework (Accessed June 20, 2024)
https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework (Accessed June 20, 2024)
The Liturgists Podcast: Fake News & Media Literacy, Mar. 7, 2017.
Emily I enjoyed your post. I also latched on to the quote you cited from the Framework for Information Literacy. I hadn't given much thought to how information was produced or valued, but that understanding is so important to how information can be used and learned from. I loved the Podcast, so I hope you enjoy it too. Great job.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily! There are a couple of points from your post that stood out to me. When I think about "fake news," I consider Mx. Dreeszen Bowman's discussion in Module 3's introductory video about misinformation versus disinformation. She pointed out that the critical difference between the two as intent. When news media uses the term, "fake news," I don't know that there is any discussion about intent. Does it matter? Maybe not but when we consider information within its context, is it a simple mistake to be cleared up or is it something that is latched onto to push an agenda? I think this discussion could be interesting to have with teens as we discuss the evaluation of information - what is their standpoint on the importance of intent, bias, and credibility?
ReplyDeleteAnother point is in reference to Facebook as a news source. You and I seem to agree that social media, like Facebook, is a dangerous place to get information. However, many of our young adults rely on social media as their news source - whether local, national, or just a news source to know what is going on in the classroom next door (unfortunately). So much can happen over a social media post without consideration of the intent of the post and the potential bias from the creator. Though we have resources to teach our students how to evaluate information, I consider it important to tie this topic in to posts even made by everyday individuals, not just "professional news outlets." Our students would benefit from understanding intent and bias across the board; hopefully, this lesson could help with decision making in all areas of life.
Hi Emily! I agree with you on all there was to learn with the Liturgists Podcast. There is so much to consider when we are vetting a source, and your idea of compiling ideas onto a bookmark is terrific. The books you shared are fantastic resources that will surely help teach these concepts. I like the way you described consuming information in a positive, helpful and healthy way. So much of what has been shared with me by family or colleagues through social media like Facebook has been alarming in apparent bias and inaccuracy. If we can move forward with an informed, positive model of media consumption, this can empower our students to do the same.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your blog this week! Thank you for sharing images of books you have used to discuss the topic in your library, they look informative and fun. The change in definition of the term "fake news", that didn't even exist twenty years ago, in such a rapid amount of time makes me think about the fact that so much of the language we use changes quickly and it is increasingly difficult to remember what things mean. It's really no wonder we as a society struggle to decipher what is true and what isn't.
Hi Emily! I really enjoyed reading your blog this week! Like I discussed in my blog, I have had a really hard time finding resources that teach "fake news" at an elementary level. I feel like bringing in politics, which is a hot topic right now, would be over their heads. Thank you so much for sharing the books that you use with your students. I just bought Killer Underwear Invasion and I can not wait to share it with my students. I am very guilty about using Facebook or any other form of social media to get my news. Having that healthy balance is important when trying to figure out what is real and what is not. Tegan was right when she talked about how we didn't even have to worry about that twenty years ago. It is amazing how so much of the language that we do use in different context can change the meaning!
ReplyDeleteHi, Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the books that you shared to use with students to help them understand the topic of fake news. I am going to save them and use them with students. I like the way that you compared our media intake to having a balanced diet. That is so true. I sometimes find myself clicking on things in Facebook that I know are silly and find myself faced with articles that are meant to me be "click bait" for advertisers to make money. This is similar to us eating junk food and later regretting it. Today I saw that it snowed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in June and I have looked for reliable sources and still don't know if it actually happened. I know the difference in reliability of sources because of life experience and the readings in this program but our students don't automatically know this. Which, like you said is why we have to teach our students to be mindful of the choices we are making and strive to be consumers of positive, helpful, and healthy information. Thanks for your post!
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote about the topic of fake news. It's such a problem! But even more so, it's such an easy to understand term when working with kids of all ages. I think the idea of sharing picture books to explain the impact of fake news is great. I teach high school Government, and we look at the effects of media bias on political coverage. The wonderful thing about these picture books is that they can be used by me in my classroom, or by teachers of young students or by librarians. Information literacy is such an important skill but it can be hard to develop concrete and engaging lessons. We have done the Common Sense Media lessons before and my students could not care less, I think these books would be much more impactful.
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. Those books are great examples of how to deal with fake news with kids. It is honestly crazy that this issue has grown to this point but here we are. Thank you for posting these, I was wondering how to deal with this issue with kids and now I have some resources.
Emily,
ReplyDeleteHey there! I love the books that you added! Great resources for young kids!
A few things that I wanted to comment on - first, great post! I really appreciate what you shared with us here, and your blog is very well done!
The quote you shared from the Liturgists Podcast resonates with me, and I wish that everyone would hear this... skepticism and find source with a different bias... if only everyone would do this rather than just jump on board with the first thing they hear/see! I think it would be a better world! I think the algorithms on things like Facebook make us see a limited perspective. I know that I would see what was sent to me so that my entire feed ended up seeming to be one sided. That was all I would see - even if it was not what I thought was true. I was inundated the last election cycle - this was not the way to find out information. I had to work to find alternative stories, to fact check constantly. It was tiring. Many do not want to go to the trouble.