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Bias in the Digital Era: Empowering Families with Information Literacy Skills
Digital Wellness - Bits & Bytes
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SD#23, Learning Technology Department is hosting a second Digital Literacy Awareness Challenge to encourage classroom teachers and students to participate from December 2024- February 2025.
This challenge focuses on the topic of 'Information Literacy'.
Information Literacy: the ability to gather, organize, analyze, and judge the relevance and purpose of digital information.
Recognizing Bias: A critical component of Information Literacy.
There are several types of Bias.
We will focus on three:
1
Confirmation Bias:
This occurs when people favor information that confirms their preexisting beliefs or values. It's important to teach children to seek out diverse perspectives and question their own assumptions.
2
Selection Bias:
This happens when certain information is selected or omitted to support a particular viewpoint. Encourage children to look for what might be missing in a story or report.
3
Framing Bias:
The way information is presented can influence perception. For example, the same event can be described in different ways to evoke different emotions. Discuss with children how language and presentation can shape understanding.
Identifying Bias:
1. Source Evaluation: Teach children to consider who created the information and why. Is the source reputable? What is the author's background and potential motivations?
2. Language and Tone: Biased information often uses emotionally charged language or a one-sided tone. Help children recognize when language is being use to manipulate emotions or opinions.
3. Fact vs. Opinion: Distinguish between factual statements and opinions. Facts can be verified, while opinions are subjective. Encourage children to look for evidence supporting factual claims.
4. Cross-Referencing: Encourage children to compare information from multiple sources. If different sources report the same facts, the information is more likely to be reliable.
Practical Tips for Parents:
1. Model Critical Thinking: Demonstrate how to question and analyze information. Share your thought process when evaluating news articles or online content.
2. Discuss Current Events: Use real-world examples to discuss bias. Ask children to identify potential biases in news stories or social media posts.
3. Encourage Open Dialogue: Create an environment where children feel comfortable discussing their views and questioning information. This helps them develop their critical thinking skills.
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