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| Beautiful flowers outside on hot Arizona summer day... they're fake. |
How do we know what is real and what is fake? We have to take a closer look to really know sometimes.
Here are the two questions my students hear me ask about sources when they’re writing a story:
- Is it credible?
- How do you know?
One of the most memorable conversations about credibility checks happened this year. I asked one beginning student the two questions, and his answer to the second one was, “I found it on Google, so…”
I replied, “Google is a search engine, not a source.”
His response? “Well, can I try Bing then?”
I simply smiled and reiterated we needed to find the actual source of information.
It is so funny, and gratifying, to see students develop into people concerned with where information comes from. When you first get them in your class, some students often seem to think, if it is on the internet, then it is okay.
Student Journalism & Media Literacy stated it well in a sidebar The Search (Engine) for Credible Sources: “This process requires consumers to be actively concerned with the quality of information they receive.”
Students move from taking information at a glance to be full truth and start to evaluate what they are finding. Then, when you ask, “Is it credible? How do you know?” students answer with more than a search engine’s name.
Knowing the importance of credibility in what we read is crucial. It’s more than helping kids to be better student journalists - it is a life skill.
Lisa Cass
Independence HS
Glendale, AZ
Lisa,
ReplyDeleteI love the simplistic nature of these 2 questions. Thank you for sharing. I did not know how to teach the importance of credibility and students simply relied on Google, or interviewing their friends. These 2 questions seem to be the foundation building blocks to Journalism and something I will introduce in the very beginning. Thank you!
Sharon Fonzo
Poston Butte HS
SanTan Valley, Arizona
Lisa (and Sharon),
ReplyDeleteLife skills.This is why I love teaching English and journalism. They just have to be the best subjects for life skills, right? I'm always shocked (but not really shocked at all) about a few things I really have to teach my students:
1) You mean if it's on the internet, it's not credible?
2) Fox news presents a news story differently than CNN? I love to get 5 or 6 different newspapers and have them compare and contrast a similar story to demonstrate that news sources do have bias.
3) Google isn't a source?
4) You go to the grocery store? (that was a bonus)...
Andrea Lyons
Marietta High
Marietta, Georgia
I wasn't able to squeeze in a talk on media literacy by Dan Gillmor, a Cronkite faculty member who wrote the book on this kind of thing (www.mediactive.com). His favorite phrase on information: "Interesting – if true." It's funny that even in the Internet age what my journalism professors at the University of Arizona told me holds true: "If your mother says she loves you, check it out."
ReplyDeleteSteve Elliott
Arizona State University
Phoenix
It's sad how this generation (millennials) depend on technology to answer all of their questions. I have never seen a generation so dependent on search engines. I have to ask the question, who's fault is it? Is it the teachers fault or the parents? Possibly it's society's fault. Lisa, keep holding them accountable. They'll thank you later.
ReplyDeleteBernice Young
Oakleaf High School
Orange Park, Florida