(S1,Ep25) Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News

This discussion is about developing better filters for processing information in a messy world. Literacy and teaching expert Michael W. Smith helps us strengthen our mindset and skillset for navigating fake news. We also discuss great teaching concepts that work well in the classroom and the public sphere. For busy teachers, Smith offers efficient ways of using one's existing practice to help students identify and interrogate information pollution.

Highlights include:

0:46 - A quick review of key concepts and ideas from our first chat (http://tiny.cc/u3r0vz)

1:52 - An overview of Michael's new book, "Fighting Fake News"

3:02 - How can busy teachers incorporate 'fake news defense' into their existing instruction?

5:24 - The importance of 'reading ourselves' and owning our own role in the pollution process

6:24 - As a concept and as reality, what is fake news?

8:55 - Literacy-wise, can skills and strategies transfer from 'fictional' to 'fake' texts?

10:13 - The crucial role of TRANSFER in learning (and in Michael's career path)

14:25 - Making opaque 'insider strategies' more explicit (and helping student do the same)

18:22 - Working backwards from enjoyable, engaging activity to formal articulation

22:10 - Applying characterization, unreliable narrator, and "rules of notice" strategies to fake news

27:00 - How is the maker(s) of this text moving my attention around, and how do I feel about that?

32:52 - Applying the 'persuasion filter' without excessive cynicism

34:34 - Reading laterally (recognizing texts as part of an ongoing cultural conversation)

36:29 - Is knowing thyself a threshold concept in the realm of fake news?

37:58 - In the world, evidence is disputed -- so "what would create a safe starting point?"

41:30 - Is reliable sensemaking possible for individuals? Mindset + skillset helps - or can help.

47:38 - Creating contexts that lend themselves to lateral reading and social trust

52:22 - Speed round: Transfer

54:22 - Speed round: Texts are intentional acts

55:39 - Speed round: Texts as a turn in an ongoing cultural conversation

56:44 - Speed round: Threshold concepts

References & Resources:

"Fighting Fake News: Teaching Students to Identify & Interrogate Information Pollution" - https://bit.ly/3tfsUQO

Michael's books - https://amzn.to/3tcj6qz and https://bit.ly/3NRI48h

"How to Mislead with Facts" - https://bit.ly/3huUWoY

"Algorithmic Media for Good" - https://bit.ly/3EgFoOv

Twitter Birdwatch - https://tcrn.ch/3UI1bUH