A letter from Sherlock to Watson My dear Watson, In a world overflowing with information, the ability to distinguish truth from deception is a skill as critical as any detective’s keen eye. This is why I find the study of ‘media literacy’ so intriguing—it is, in many ways, the modern art of deduction. I was … read more »
Artificial intelligence (AI) is an amazing tool. Like all tools, it has benefits and deficits—one deficit affecting education is AI’s ability to produce misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information, and disinformation is false information deliberately produced to mislead. Media literacy education is key to teaching students to recognize misinformation and disinformation produced … read more »
This is my second post examining the argument Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath has been making about educational technology. In my first post—Let’s Talk About What the Research on K12 EdTech Actually Shows—I looked closely at the evidence behind his claims and what the peer-reviewed research actually says. This post asks a different question, and one … read more »
You’re staring at a new unit plan, trying to figure out how to weave in media literacy, find credible primary sources, and keep thirty different students engaged—all while hitting your state standards. It feels like a solo mountain climb. But here’s the thing: you aren’t alone on that mountain. Just down the hall—or perhaps right … read more »
Middle school students are shifting from passive consumers of technology to active, engaged digital citizens. They’re building their perspectives, experimenting with social media, and discovering the power of their voices. Teaching AI literacy means more than showing them how to write prompts — it means demystifying the technology and pulling back the curtain so students … read more »
Digital citizenship has come into greater focus for educators over the years as misinformation has begun to dominate social media news feeds. According to a 2024 fact sheet from Pew Research Center, more than 54% of American adults receive their news from social media outlets, and we know this number is much higher for younger … read more »
The modification of media has been happening for a very long time. The image above was published in 1902 as a depiction of General Grant at City Point. According to the Library of Congress, this is actually three photos combined in to one: the head is from an image of Grant at his Cold Harbor, … read more »
As an educator, it’s essential to grasp the significant role CNN plays in the ‘CNN Effect,’ a term coined to describe the profound impact of CNN on the news industry. Since its inception in June of 1980, CNN has transformed news delivery, shifting from periodic updates to 24-hour coverage. This shift has made real-time information … read more »
Technology has transformed how information is accessed and shared, bringing opportunities and challenges to our classrooms. In this wild west of the Internet, as educators, we find ourselves in serious need of superhero skills to empower students to thrive in a dynamic and interconnected world – where misinformation lurks in the shadows, emojis function as … read more »
June 30 is Social Media Day and is an excellent time to consider options for providing students with the tools for responsible use of social media. With over 4.9 billion active users worldwide and teens spending an average of 3 hours daily on social media, it is vital to equip students with the necessary skills … read more »