Media literacy is as critical as teaching students to read, write and do math, says Eisha Buch, head of teaching and learning at Common Sense Media, in a K-12 Dive article. A sense of urgency comes with the rise of artificial intelligence and the circulation of conspiracy theories about everything from 9/11 to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Debunking conspiracy theories is part of media literacy,” but it’s not the place to start, says Buch. “It’s about understanding the media ecosystem that allows such content to flourish.”
When combating misinformation and disinformation, educators should ask students, “What’s the goal of the conspiracy? How many people would need to be involved?” “Is there any piece of evidence we can give you that might change your mind?”
Educators first need to understand the attention economy. This has companies competing for individuals’ attention as a commodity. Educators need to know how it works and then instill that understanding in students, Buch says.
This includes asking who profits from the content, why the content exists, and who it serves. Then, students should be asked to decide whether they want to engage with a given post or news story or decide to ignore it, Buch says. If a student decides to engage, they should think critically and stay curious, Buch says.
In today’s AI-fired world, students should not “go super-deep on one particular post — go wide, on different sources,” she says. “This is, admittedly, the hardest piece, especially with AI: You can find multiple sources that still give you the wrong information.”
Students should also be urged to check their emotional responses, Buch says.
“If something makes you furious or excited, it’s worthwhile to pause and think,” she says. “Strong emotions work against your ability to think critically. Disinformation is trying to bypass the rational frame.”
Educators should continuously practice these measures in class with reliable sources of information, Buch says.
“Everything you see online is tied to an incentive model in some way,” Buch says. “You’re not trying to teach kids to be cynical, but you do want them to think critically.”
K-12 Dive
