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Every day, stories that information. There is no doubt that What Should Be Done
regarding the abuse of students will learn from the media and Why is this important now? This topic is
advertisements, but the greater ques-
media outlets to influence tion is WHAT will they learn (Hinchey, highly relevant and increasingly urgent
2003). The goal then should be to help since the cries of “fake news” became
elections or national issues students develop critical thinking and the ubiquitous phrase denouncing any
have grown more alarming. questioning skills to make them savvy disagreeable news story. The longer
we go without formally incorporating
Facebook is attempting to recover consumers of the media and to, more media and digital literacy standards, the
from the ongoing revelations that their importantly, be reflective democratic greater the erosion of trust toward the
platform had been manipulated by other citizens (Hinchey, 2003). news. Consider the evolution in informa-
nations, outside groups, and extremist What Students Are Accessing tion technology - AI and bot generated
organizations. YouTube is under fire for content. What looks real, may not be,
the increasingly inflammatory content According to a 2015 American Press as Jordan Peele’s voice-over of Barack
that is indoctrinating disaffected indi- Institute study, more millennials are Obama illustrates. Many people may
viduals or groups influencing them to getting their news from social media wonder, but few are determined to ad-
engage in heinous acts. Cries of “fake sources than from traditional news dress the development of algorithms
news” come from the highest office to sources. In 2015, the American Press that track searches, purchases, and
everyday people leaving us to wonder Institute study found that 88% polled clicks. What we see are ads and cued
“what is real?” Answering this question said they got their news from Facebook, up stories that are specifically designed
has never been more important than at 87% from YouTube, and 50% from to match our interests. As educational
any other time in world history. While Instagram. In 2018, the PEW Research leaders, a focus must include incorporat-
access to information has been a bless- Center examined several growing trends ing the ISTE and NAMLE Core Prin-
ing, we are now seeing the dark side regarding news access. They found that ciples into our daily instruction. This is
of too much information and too little of Western Europeans under the age of daunting, but an important task. So what
knowledge of how to assess information 30, they are twice as likely to get their are we to do?
and sources to determine the validity, news from social media outlets (Pew
reliability, and credibility of that informa- Research Center, 2018). In the United Educational Leaders
tion, how to use this information to craft States, there is a similar growing trend 1. Establish a clear and shared
a position, and how to critically think among young adults (18-24) and their district-wide vision for media
and question the information that is all access to information but note there are literacy.
around. ISTE (International Society changes among the sources of infor-
for Technical Education) and NAMLE mation. Facebook usage has dropped, 2. Promote a digital age learning
(National Association for Media Literacy from 34% to 31% while 68% say they culture that stresses rigorous
Education) have developed standards are getting their news from Instagram learning by all.
and guidelines, yet those standards and 59% from Reddit. Ironically, those 3. Provide professional learning
are not yet represented in New Jersey same users distrust that information and and development of digital
Student Learning Standards and now is question its validity, a concept which is competencies and resources.
the time to incorporate them. being reinforced with reports of nefari- 4. Develop systematic improvement
ous actions by others in an attempt to plans to promote continuous
What Students Are Learning sway public opinion (Pew Research improvement.
As schools transition to 1:1 learning Center, 2016). 5. Model and facilitate digital
formats, students and teachers have According to a 2015 citizenship and media literacy
access to the information right at their (ISTE, 2018).
fingertips. The Google Suite and Google American Press Institute
Classroom have become mainstays study, more millennials Educators
in American classrooms. While these are getting their news 1. Facilitate and inspire student
tools have tremendous use, for many, learning and creativity through
the challenge is how to manage access from social media sourc- the use of digital sources and
to the plethora of information on the es than from traditional other resources.
Internet. Over a decade ago, because 2. Design and develop authentic
of the overexposure to information by news sources. In 2015, learning experiences that
students, Patricia Hinchey addressed the American Press In- incorporate a variety of tools
the need for schools to incorporate stitute study found that and resources promoting critical
media literacy. Hinchey found that thinking and questioning.
surfing the Internet provides users with 88% polled said they got 3. Model what is expected.
access to news stories, perspectives, their news from Face-
and images but little has been done to 4. Promote media literacy and
develop critical thinking and questioning book, 87% from YouTube, digital citizenship.
by students to help them make sense of and 50% from Instagram.

Educational Viewpoints -82- Spring 2019