Talking about teaching digital literacy, it’s important to consider how educators can use tools and strategies to help students identify fake news, evaluate sources critically, and navigate the complex media landscape. Digital literacy is an essential skill for students across all subjects and grade ranges, and integrating these ideas into various curricula can strengthen students’ ability to think critically and make informed decisions.

In a Science Classroom (Grades 5-12): For science students, digital literacy involves the ability to assess scientific claims, research papers, and health-related news articles that students encounter online.

• Media Bias Chart: This tool can be used in science classrooms to evaluate how different media sources cover scientific developments, such as climate change, pandemics, or new discoveries. By analyzing the bias of various outlets, students can be encouraged to evaluate the quality and objectivity of the information they consume.
• Incorporating NCTE Goals: The NCTE framework encourages students to read critically, which directly ties into evaluating sources of scientific information. Students will learn to question the legitimacy of studies, understand the role of funding and interest groups, and discern the difference between evidence-based claims and sensationalism in media.

General Ties to the Curriculum

In addition to the subject-specific integration mentioned above, digital literacy can be tied to broader curricular goals:

1. Critical Thinking: Across subjects, students should be taught to question the information they encounter. By using tools like PolitEcho, they can trace misinformation and develop the skills to evaluate sources carefully.
2. Collaboration: Digital literacy can also be taught through collaborative group work, where students analyze and discuss the credibility of information together. This can help students learn from each other’s perspectives and deepen their understanding of digital citizenship.
3. Ethical Use of Information: Digital literacy also includes teaching students how to ethically use information. Understanding plagiarism, copyright, and the importance of giving credit to authors are essential components of digital citizenship.
4. Media Literacy Across Subjects: The concept of media literacy—understanding how media shape our worldview—can be integrated across the curriculum. For example, in English and social studies, students could explore the role of media in shaping public opinion, while in science, they could analyze how scientific facts are often presented in sensationalist ways by the media.

Incorporating NCTE Framework Goals

The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) framework emphasizes that students should be able to read, write, and communicate effectively, but also to be critical consumers of information. This aligns perfectly with digital literacy goals.

• Reading and Analyzing Texts: Students will learn to analyze not only the content of a text but also the source, its credibility, and potential biases. The Media Bias Chart could be used to show how different political leanings influence the reporting of events.
• Writing and Communicating Ideas: As students produce their own work (such as research papers or blogs), they will need to demonstrate the ability to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. They can also be tasked with creating a piece of content that includes accurate information and properly cites sources.
• Critical Thinking and Inquiry: Students will be encouraged to ask questions about the information they encounter, is this news outlet trustworthy? What is the source of the information? How does the language used shape my perception? Tools like the Spot the Troll (Quiz) could be used to assess students’ ability to discern credible sources from trolls or misinformation.

Conclusion

Teaching digital literacy involves equipping students with the tools and skills to critically assess the information they encounter every day. By incorporating resources like PolitEcho, SweetSearch, and the Media Bias Chart, educators can guide students through the process of identifying misinformation and understanding the broader context of how news and media are produced and consumed. Tying these lessons to the NCTE framework will ensure that students develop the skills to be not just consumers of information, but also critical, thoughtful participants in the digital world