In this new media age, the ability to negotiate and evaluate information online, to recognize manipulation and propaganda and to assimilate ethical values is becoming as basic to education as reading and writing.”
I had not really given much thought to this before I read this article. People will need to be honing their “BS” radar skill that’s for sure. We will have to be able to discern what is real and what is not sometimes just by reading it. This should help students become more aware and hopefully more careful of the kinds of things they are reading on the internet.
Many educators express concern about young people’s increased reliance on Wikipedia as a resource for their homework assignments and research projects.
I guess maybe I shouldn’t admit this, but I always look on Wikipedia to research things. It never occurred to me that the information I was reading wasn’t necessarily accurate. I think of Wikipedia as an encyclopedia. But if you really want to think about it, who’s to say that an encyclopedia is any more correct that Wikipedia.
In doing so, students follow their curiosity, tap their knowledge, and draw connections between topics that might not seem intuitively linked.
This is a great quote. Even if Wikipedia has no other purpose, if it can encourage students to look further and continue to search a subject, then it serves a huge purpose and is a good educational tool.
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=553883
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=553883
Diana,
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about your third quote. I don’t think that Wikipedia should be used as a primary source that students use. I think it should be a tool used to help find answers. They should look at it with skepticism and a curious eye that leads them to further exploration.
Good post!
The first quote is true, but I do not necessarily think that all people are doing this. I don't think most students do look further or are taught how to discern what is valid and what is not.
ReplyDeleteI like what you said in the 2nd and 3rd quote. I wasn't aware that the information published in Wikipedia wasn't always accurate until I was college. I always thought it was an online encyclopedia, and I think many students are still under that impression. So as educators in is our responsibility to inform our students about this information. However, as you said in your third quote, I agree I think Wikipedia is a great tool especially if we use it to encourage further research.
ReplyDeleteI really like the third quote that you chose!!! Having students ask more questions and find their own answers is so important...a skill that is necessary to be successful in all aspects of life! This was something I was not taught to do until I was in college!!! As educators, if we can teach our students how to do this at an earlier age they will be much better off. Like you said in your comment about your first quote, Wilipedia if we can have them turn on their "BS" radar, then they will be able to find out the needed information that is correct and reliable instead of something that is made up or not reliable. Great Post!
ReplyDeleteLena:)
This is a great discussion and I'm pleased you all learned something about Wikipedia and understand that it can serve an important role in developing students critical literacy skills!
ReplyDelete