Alarmed By Fake News States Push Media Literacy In Schools

[Preacher]

Any decent parent has already talked to their children about the BS their kids see in the media/news etc. I know I did and still do. We shouldn't wait on the government schools to tell our kids what to think etc.

 

[frigidweirdo]

Actually, it worked for many years. Others are attempting to destroy its very foundation. That is the problem.

No victim. Just truth. Sadly, the victims will be the students, as you are right, they will be lied to.

They will be teaching only left wing sources as being accurate, with such sites as politifact, factcheck, etc. It will make things worse. Looking at the states doing it and those proposing to, tells a story in and of itself.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Alarmed by the proliferation of false content online, state lawmakers around the country are pushing schools to put more emphasis on teaching students how to tell fact from fiction.

Lawmakers in several states have introduced or passed bills calling on public school systems to do more to teach media literacy skills that they say are critical to democracy. The effort has been bipartisan but has received little attention despite successful legislation in Washington state, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Mexico.

Several more states are expected to consider such bills in the coming year, including Arizona, New York and Hawaii.

“I don’t think it’s a partisan issue to appreciate the importance of good information and the teaching of tools for navigating the information environment,” said Hans Zeiger, a Republican state senator in Washington who co-sponsored a bill that passed in his state earlier this year. “There is such a thing as an objective source versus other kinds of sources, and that’s an appropriate thing for schools to be teaching.”

Advocates say the K-12 curriculum has not kept pace with rapid changes in technology. Studies show many children spend hours every day online but struggle to comprehend the content that comes at them.

For years, they have pushed schools to incorporate media literacy — including the ability to evaluate and analyze sources of information — into lesson plans in civics, language arts, science and other subjects.

Their efforts started getting traction after the 2016 presidential election, which highlighted how even many adults can be fooled by false and misleading content peddled by agenda-driven domestic and foreign sources.

“Five years ago, it was difficult to get people to understand what we were doing and what we wanted to see happen in education and the skills students needed to learn,” said Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. “Now there is no question about the vitalness of this in classrooms.”

A study published last year by Stanford University researchers also brought the issue into focus. It warned that students from middle school to college were “easily duped” and ill-equipped to use reason with online information.

The researchers warned that “democracy is threatened by the ease at which disinformation about civic issues is allowed to spread and flourish.”

In June, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a bill establishing an advisory council to develop recommendations that will include instructing students on evaluating what they see and read online.

Jennifer Rocca, a high school librarian in Brookfield, Connecticut, was among several supporters who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation.

Her digital literacy course, a requirement for freshmen, challenges students to evaluate the credibility of online sources so they can spot falsehoods and biased information. She requires students to cite their sources when conducting research and explain why each would have the authority to be credible.

Without stronger statewide standards, Rocca said she worries that some school districts will not do enough to develop skills that are critical for students and society.

“You should be expected to navigate the internet and evaluate the information no matter where you go to school,” she said.

Many of the state bills are based on model legislation backed by a coalition of groups, including Media Literacy Now and the Digital Citizenship Institute. Advocates say the laws are a good first step that must be paired with updates to teacher education programs, funding for professional development and other changes throughout the education system.

The efforts have run into concerns about school funding shortfalls, and supporters say they are mindful of adding mandates on districts and teachers. That’s why the laws have so far stopped short of dictating changes and instead called for voluntary actions.

New Mexico Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, said media literacy is an elective in the state’s secondary schools curriculum — unlike financial literacy, which is required. He said he would like to see that changed in coming years and “intertwined throughout the entire curriculum regardless of what you are teaching.”

Last summer, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed two bills calling on state education officials to work with media literacy organizations to consider incorporating the subject into the basic education program.

The new law in Washington requires the state school superintendent to create a website with links to successful media literacy practices. The office also must conduct a survey to understand how librarians, teachers, principals and technology directors are integrating those subjects into their curriculum.

Supporters are helping lawmakers in several states draft similar bills to be introduced in 2018.

“The combination of social media and misinformation really captured people’s awareness and attention in the last year,” said Erin McNeill, president of Media Literacy Now, a nonprofit based in Watertown, Massachusetts. “It took a long time to get media literacy into the public consciousness.”


Spread of fake news prompts literacy efforts in schools

Ah, the old victim playing.

This will, of course, hurt the right a lot more, because the right, like Trump, like to make things up a lot more.

The truth?

Some teachers might try indoctrination of some sort.

The BIGGEST problem here is that the political system is so partisan that it leaks to all other areas of life. You don't see this in other countries because there's more choice.

Until the US changes the way people vote in the representatives, you're going to constantly have partisans on BOTH SIDES who will push people to be on their side. It's destroying the US.

Yet people like you actually SUPPORT keeping the system because you think it somehow benefits you, without seeing how it's destroying what's around you.

Works for who, exactly?

The country has ghettos worse than most other first world countries. It has the highest murder rate in the first world. It has a health system which sucks. It has a military which goes around the world spreading hate and fear.

Yeah, it's working, but for the rich people who use such things for their own advantage.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

“I don’t think it’s a partisan issue…”

That’s because it’s not a partisan issue.

Facts and the truth exist separate and apart from political parties and ideology.

And that many on the right perceive the teaching of critical thinking skills as a ‘threat’ to conservativism is indeed telling.

 

[irosie91]

Actually, it worked for many years. Others are attempting to destroy its very foundation. That is the problem.

No victim. Just truth. Sadly, the victims will be the students, as you are right, they will be lied to.

They will be teaching only left wing sources as being accurate, with such sites as politifact, factcheck, etc. It will make things worse. Looking at the states doing it and those proposing to, tells a story in and of itself.

Ah, the old victim playing.

This will, of course, hurt the right a lot more, because the right, like Trump, like to make things up a lot more.

The truth?

Some teachers might try indoctrination of some sort.

The BIGGEST problem here is that the political system is so partisan that it leaks to all other areas of life. You don't see this in other countries because there's more choice.

Until the US changes the way people vote in the representatives, you're going to constantly have partisans on BOTH SIDES who will push people to be on their side. It's destroying the US.

Yet people like you actually SUPPORT keeping the system because you think it somehow benefits you, without seeing how it's destroying what's around you.

Works for who, exactly?

The country has ghettos worse than most other first world countries. It has the highest murder rate in the first world. It has a health system which sucks. It has a military which goes around the world spreading hate and fear.

Yeah, it's working, but for the rich people who use such things for their own advantage.

go soak your head <<<< that one was a biggie in the school yard when I was ten

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Get rid of Fake Fox News and you eliminate 80% of fake news. Con talk radio accounts for 15% more and the con websites like Alex Jones accounts for the rest. Trump is a crucial contributor to the lies all of these outlets put out.

Rightwing media that contrives and propagates lies and misinformation can’t be gotten rid of, of course; but teaching students critical thinking skills can go a long way to neutralize the adverse effects of rightwing media.

 

[irosie91]

Get rid of Fake Fox News and you eliminate 80% of fake news. Con talk radio accounts for 15% more and the con websites like Alex Jones accounts for the rest. Trump is a crucial contributor to the lies all of these outlets put out.

Rightwing media that contrives and propagates lies and misinformation can’t be gotten rid of, of course; but teaching students critical thinking skills can go a long way to neutralize the adverse effects of rightwing media.

oh---------hands off the rest

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

“Conservative principles”

An oxymoron if there ever was one.

 

[irosie91]

Any decent parent has already talked to their children about the BS their kids see in the media/news etc. I know I did and still do. We shouldn't wait on the government schools to tell our kids what to think etc.

"TELL OUR KIDS WHAT TO THINK"

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Any decent parent has already talked to their children about the BS their kids see in the media/news etc. I know I did and still do. We shouldn't wait on the government schools to tell our kids what to think etc.

"TELL OUR KIDS WHAT TO THINK"

Typical conservative response to something they fear or oppose: contrive a ridiculous lie.

No one is telling anyone ‘what to think.’

 

[Nia88]

I personally don't agree with this. The schools will teach student's what is fake news depending on whether the state red or blue. So in a red state you'll see a push for conservative media, and in blue states a push for liberal media.

They will create even a greater political bias in society.

 

[Disir]

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Alarmed by the proliferation of false content online, state lawmakers around the country are pushing schools to put more emphasis on teaching students how to tell fact from fiction.

Lawmakers in several states have introduced or passed bills calling on public school systems to do more to teach media literacy skills that they say are critical to democracy. The effort has been bipartisan but has received little attention despite successful legislation in Washington state, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Mexico.

Several more states are expected to consider such bills in the coming year, including Arizona, New York and Hawaii.

“I don’t think it’s a partisan issue to appreciate the importance of good information and the teaching of tools for navigating the information environment,” said Hans Zeiger, a Republican state senator in Washington who co-sponsored a bill that passed in his state earlier this year. “There is such a thing as an objective source versus other kinds of sources, and that’s an appropriate thing for schools to be teaching.”

Advocates say the K-12 curriculum has not kept pace with rapid changes in technology. Studies show many children spend hours every day online but struggle to comprehend the content that comes at them.

For years, they have pushed schools to incorporate media literacy — including the ability to evaluate and analyze sources of information — into lesson plans in civics, language arts, science and other subjects.

Their efforts started getting traction after the 2016 presidential election, which highlighted how even many adults can be fooled by false and misleading content peddled by agenda-driven domestic and foreign sources.

“Five years ago, it was difficult to get people to understand what we were doing and what we wanted to see happen in education and the skills students needed to learn,” said Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. “Now there is no question about the vitalness of this in classrooms.”

A study published last year by Stanford University researchers also brought the issue into focus. It warned that students from middle school to college were “easily duped” and ill-equipped to use reason with online information.

The researchers warned that “democracy is threatened by the ease at which disinformation about civic issues is allowed to spread and flourish.”

In June, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a bill establishing an advisory council to develop recommendations that will include instructing students on evaluating what they see and read online.

Jennifer Rocca, a high school librarian in Brookfield, Connecticut, was among several supporters who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation.

Her digital literacy course, a requirement for freshmen, challenges students to evaluate the credibility of online sources so they can spot falsehoods and biased information. She requires students to cite their sources when conducting research and explain why each would have the authority to be credible.

Without stronger statewide standards, Rocca said she worries that some school districts will not do enough to develop skills that are critical for students and society.

“You should be expected to navigate the internet and evaluate the information no matter where you go to school,” she said.

Many of the state bills are based on model legislation backed by a coalition of groups, including Media Literacy Now and the Digital Citizenship Institute. Advocates say the laws are a good first step that must be paired with updates to teacher education programs, funding for professional development and other changes throughout the education system.

The efforts have run into concerns about school funding shortfalls, and supporters say they are mindful of adding mandates on districts and teachers. That’s why the laws have so far stopped short of dictating changes and instead called for voluntary actions.

New Mexico Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, said media literacy is an elective in the state’s secondary schools curriculum — unlike financial literacy, which is required. He said he would like to see that changed in coming years and “intertwined throughout the entire curriculum regardless of what you are teaching.”

Last summer, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo signed two bills calling on state education officials to work with media literacy organizations to consider incorporating the subject into the basic education program.

The new law in Washington requires the state school superintendent to create a website with links to successful media literacy practices. The office also must conduct a survey to understand how librarians, teachers, principals and technology directors are integrating those subjects into their curriculum.

Supporters are helping lawmakers in several states draft similar bills to be introduced in 2018.

“The combination of social media and misinformation really captured people’s awareness and attention in the last year,” said Erin McNeill, president of Media Literacy Now, a nonprofit based in Watertown, Massachusetts. “It took a long time to get media literacy into the public consciousness.”


Spread of fake news prompts literacy efforts in schools

So, we are going to relearn the crap that is taught in 4th grade? Ok.

 

[depotoo]

Actually, any district that is unionized is teaching liberal bias, whether in a red or blue state.

I personally don't agree with this. The schools will teach student's what is fake news depending on whether the state red or blue. So in a red state you'll see a push for conservative media, and in blue states a push for liberal media.

They will create even a greater political bias in society.

 

[Marion Morrison]

I personally don't agree with this. The schools will teach student's what is fake news depending on whether the state red or blue. So in a red state you'll see a push for conservative media, and in blue states a push for liberal media.

They will create even a greater political bias in society.

I don't think so, there used to be a section on it in the Civics book.

 

[Preacher]

Any decent parent has already talked to their children about the BS their kids see in the media/news etc. I know I did and still do. We shouldn't wait on the government schools to tell our kids what to think etc.

"TELL OUR KIDS WHAT TO THINK"

Tell them to think for themselves. My 11 year old already knows the garbage taught in her "history" class is nothing but Pro American propaganda to make the US and its allies look like angels and the rest of the world look like the enemy. She is a voracious reader and LOVES learning the truth.