High School Students Learn What is Real or Fake News

Summary

At Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, seniors are learning to identify false and misleading information through a digital course called Checkology. Taught by social studies teacher Patricia Hunt, the course uses real-world examples, including the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, to help students differentiate between credible news and misinformation. With the rise of social media, teens often struggle to assess the truth of what they encounter. Checkology, supported by the News Literacy Project, aims to foster critical thinking and fact-checking skills in students, enabling them to navigate information more effectively and confidently.

Takeaways

• 😀 High school seniors at Wakefield High in Arlington, Virginia, are learning to identify false or misleading information using a digital course called Checkology.
• 😀 Social studies teacher Patricia Hunt uses real-world examples, such as the Parkland shooting, to help students critically assess news and rumors.
• 😀 The course aims to teach students how to distinguish between factual, misleading, and false information.
• 😀 Students today are constantly exposed to information, including fake news, viral rumors, and misinformation, especially on social media.
• 😀 Patricia Hunt's goal is for students to identify quality journalism and recognize fake news, propaganda, and biased information.
• 😀 Research shows that teens primarily get their information from social media and tend to trust information from friends.
• 😀 Ellen Miller, founder of the News Literacy Project, notes that younger students often believe everything online is verified and true.
• 😀 High school students are becoming more cynical and skeptical, recognizing that all information may be driven by bias or agenda.
• 😀 The Checkology program helps students develop critical thinking skills to assess the credibility of information they encounter.
• 😀 Students who have participated in Checkology courses feel more confident in their ability to identify fake news and assess media credibility.
• 😀 Checkology is being used by thousands of educators in the U.S. and in 90 other countries to help students recognize fake news and verify information.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the course being taught by Patricia Hunt?

The course focuses on helping students identify false, misleading, or misleading information in the media, using real-world examples to teach critical thinking skills about news accuracy.

What real-world example did Patricia Hunt use to teach her students about misinformation?

Patricia Hunt used the example of the Parkland, Florida high school shooting in February, where 14 students and three teachers were killed, asking students to analyze rumors that swirled after the event to determine their validity.

Why does Patricia Hunt emphasize teaching students about misinformation?

Patricia Hunt emphasizes the importance of recognizing misinformation because students are constantly exposed to information through social media and need to be able to distinguish between quality journalism and misleading content.

What does the News Literacy Project aim to achieve through Checkology?

The News Literacy Project aims to teach students how to critically assess the credibility of news and information they encounter, helping them distinguish between reliable sources and misinformation.

How do teenagers typically perceive information they find online, according to Ellen Miller?

Ellen Miller explains that younger teens often believe that if something is posted online, it must be verified and true, while older teens may become more cynical and perceive all information as equally biased or agenda-driven.

What critical skill is missing among students regarding information consumption?

The missing critical skill is the ability to analyze and evaluate the information they come across, especially when faced with biased or misleading content.

What personal takeaway did a student share after taking the Checkology course?

One student shared that after completing the course, they learned how to distinguish real news from fake news, which will help them navigate social media more critically.

What is the intended outcome for students taking the Checkology course?

The intended outcome is for students to develop the ability to assess the credibility of news and information they encounter, which will help them make informed decisions about what to trust and share.

How many educators and countries are currently using the Checkology courses?

Thousands of educators in the U.S. and in 90 other countries are using the Checkology courses to help students recognize and evaluate fake news and misinformation.

What role does social media play in the spread of misinformation, as discussed in the transcript?

Social media plays a significant role in the spread of misinformation, as it is where many teens get most of their information, and they are often more likely to trust and share content from their peers.