Assignment
Keepin It Real: Tips and Strategies for Evaluating Fake News
In an effort to provide students with an open space to learn about and discuss recent national concerns over “fake news,” the library offered four sessions of the workshop “Keepin’ It Real: Tips & Strategies for Evaluating Fake News” during a campus-wide Inauguration Teach-In on Friday, January 20, 2017. During this session, students had the opportunity to talk about how misleading news sources (encompassing misinformation, disinformation, click-bait, propaganda, etc.) have affected their views on civil discourse, specifically relating to the recent U.S. presidential election. By the end of the session, we hope students became more confident in their ability to use critical thinking skills to judge the reliability of news reports, whether they come via print, television or the internet.
| Attachment | Size |
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 Lesson Plan displayed 2998 times | 612.04 KB |
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| Activity #1displayed 2609 times | 143.59 KB |
 PowerPointdisplayed 2267 times | 496.98 KB |
| Handout / Activity #2displayed 2550 times | 185.37 KB |
| Handout / Activity #2displayed 1851 times | 126.82 KB |
| Activity #2 Answer Key / Additional Instructions displayed 2496 times | 15.7 KB |
• Students will practice techniques for evaluating the credibility of news stories.
• Students will reflect upon their reactions to stories and practice identifying and distinguishing between their emotional responses and logical analyses of the items.
• Students will learn the value of information and sources from multiple perspectives.
• Students will become credible, trustworthy publishers in the digital age (sharing news).
Information Literacy concepts:
Individual or Group:
Ability Level:
The campus-wide breakout sessions were from 11:00-12:30pm (1.5 hours). Faculty were encouraged to cancel classes 8am-12:30pm so that students could watch the Inauguration together and attend one breakout session.
• Inauguration Day Teach-in website: https://web.archive.org/web/20180117195647/http://academics.lmu.edu/teachin/breakoutsessions/
The library decided to offer four 45-minute break out sessions. Approximately 90 students attended. Several staff members and faculty attended also.
• Library Breakout Session Description:
Activity #2 could be spun off into a reflective assignment for students to critically examine their own news media consumption and information behaviors.
We had too much material for a 45-minute workshop. Perhaps 60-90 minutes is more realistic. Set aside more time for student discussion. As time marches on, choose a more timely "Fake News" story for Activity #1.
