Well..the first thing I did after watching the lecture this week was take the CRAAP poster down in the library.
After listening to the podcast and completing the readings this week, I see the need to create my own chart to help my middle school students. The CRAAP method had a place, but it is antiquated even though it is still widely used. A quick Google image search provides pages of results with images and links to slide presentations and videos. The page I pulled my image from was updated on August 28, 2020. I think the reason this is still used is because it is easy to remember, easy to use, and humorous (especially for the middle school crowd). After listening to the podcast this week, I see that evaluating sites is more nuanced than the CRAAP method shows.
Students are bombarded with so much information all the time. They need to be careful of consumers of information, and school librarians are the best equipped to help students navigate this new world. As technology changes, the evaluation methods need to change with it. The Framework for 21st Century Learning shows the skills that 21st century learners need in order to be successful. The information, media, and technology skills section shows the intersection of this weeks concepts by stating "we live in a technology and media-driven environment...Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as information literacy, media literacy, ICT (information, communications and technology) literacy." The integration of these last three concepts can happen through targeted instruction in the library in conjunction with content standards.
I am going to take what I read and listened to this week to create my own graphic for my students. I do not want to overwhelm them with too much information, but they need a guide to help them navigate the increasingly complex technological world. The podcast listed 6 ways to help combat fake news. I would add a 7th.
- A news piece should have an author for credibility.
- Publishing information should be readily available.
- Publication date should be current.
- Sources are cited.
- The piece should be well written.
- Watch out for emotionally charged pieces that make the reader angry or afraid.
- Be mindful of the motivation of the piece
Works Cited
Frameworks & Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://www.battelleforkids.org/networks/p21/frameworks-resources
McHargue, M. (2017, March 07). Fake News & Media Literacy. Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/3/7/fake-news-media-literacy
Preuss School: Website Evaluation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 11, 2020, from https://ucsd.libguides.com/preuss/webeval
I'd love to see what you come up with as your alternative. I think the CRAAP method seems helpful, though I haven't used it with students yet. Certainly the acronym is one that will catch middle schoolers' attention!
ReplyDeleteI am going to keep working on my ideas. I really liked the rap that they used in the podcast, but it had some curse words in it. I think I am going to use the idea and have students create their own charts or songs.
DeleteHi Stacey!
ReplyDeleteI loved your idea of making your own graphic that states the credibility method discussed in the podcast by The Liturgists for your students using terms that they can relate to. The list was simple to remember and not overcomplicated. I have learned as a have worked with students and with my own boys, that if it is too complicated or too many steps, they aren't going to use it. Teaching students effective ways of seeking credible information gives us as librarians some job security to keep our profession relevant in this new digital world, so that's good news!
Suzanne Spearman
Hopefully, I can find something simple yet effective. If I can get the process internalized in the students, then they are more apt to use it.
DeleteLast semester, I planned out a research proposal involving delivering direct instruction for information literacy skills and the South Carolina Ready-to-Work assessment scores. In my research, I learned that high school students have no awareness of how publication bias may slant what they are reading. The students could not find the "About Us" page in order to judge that aspect of the piece they were reading. I think the addition of your 7th guideline would probably incorporate that.
ReplyDeleteI think if we can teach these skills, we will be instrumental in helping our students become better citizens. In the current age, I REALLY wish we had better consumers of information. Last night, in fact, on the PBS News Hour, the reporters Shields and Brooks warned against information apathy. The worry is Americans are so worn out with reporting, they have stopped seeking out new information and the newest information is quite damning to the current leaders.
--Anna Musselman
DeleteI'll admit that I don't watch as much news as I used to. I read most of my news now. I can just focus on the stories that I need to know. So much news all the time can be overwhelming.
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