Separating the Real from the Fake (News) via OTAN

Separating the Real from the Fake (News)

OTAN: 2.05.2020

The politically-charged American landscape has already seen its fill of newsworthy items in 2020 – the impeachment trial in the Senate, the Iowa caucus and the kickoff of the US presidential campaign, the ramp-up to the 2020 Census – that make it challenging for the average American to sift through the news, fake or otherwise. As we continue through election season, nominating conventions, and televised debates, and complete our Census forms in a few months, this year promises to be jam-packed with news that screams for our attention.

In the January OTAN web-based activity, Kristi Reyes previewed some sites for developing students’ media literacy and critical thinking skills, including 

Factitious

Mind Over Media

National Association for Media Literacy Education

There is another site making headlines, and that is Civic Online Reasoning (COR), created by the Stanford History Education Group (SHEG). Near the end of 2019, SHEG published Students' Civic Online Reasoning: A National Portrait, which described how US high school students, often termed “digital natives,” had difficulty identifying fake news and rarely employed steps that might help them identify with certainty whether an online news item or social media post was real or fake. SHEG’s main recommendation was that students (and adults) needed more training to sort through information on the Internet to become well-informed citizens and not be duped.  READ MORE >>

Automatic Readability Checker

Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 22

Reading Level: very difficult to read.

Reader's Age: College graduate

Examining the Word “Literacy” via Knowledge Quest

Examining the Word “Literacy”

Knowledge Quest: 12.128.2018 by Georgina Trebbe

I recently became curious about how the word “literacy” has been paired with other words to create terms all librarians use within their practice. Curiosity surfaced when I read the term “innovation literacy.” Thinking I had hit upon a new concept, I was eager to share. I quickly added innovation literacy to my list of literacies offered within the courses I instruct for pre-services school library teachers. I also used the term innovation literacy within my high school community during conversations surrounding student engagement. Yet as I presented innovation literacy, something gnawed at me. Did I really understand how the word literacy was consistently being used when defining a specific term? The research bug bit! I needed to gain an understanding of the word literacy.

The word literacy has a long history with librarians. Just mention the word, literacy and an immediate association with successfully being able to read, write, and communicate materializes in the mind. Yet, separate the word literacy from reading, writing, and communicating and a very powerful secondary meaning emerges. Literacy, paired with another word, finely focuses on the successful competence a human has in a specific area. The secondary definition harkens back to the writing of learning objectives where students “have the ability to…”  as an indication of competency.

Computer Literacy: the ability to effectively use a computer,

Cultural Literacy: the ability to understand one’s own culture,

Data Literacy: the ability to derive meaningful information from data sources,

Digital Literacy: cognitive/metacognitive skills developed to adapt, manipulate, and complete tasks across several digital environments,

Information Literacy: the ability to use information and communications technologies to effectively locate, evaluate, determine relevancy, synthesize, and use information ethically,

Innovation Literacy: the ability to creatively problem solve within the abstract,

Media Literacy: the ability to use and make judgments about media,

Multicultural Literacy: an appreciation of cultures, other than one’s own,

Political Literacy: the ability to understand the political landscape,

Technology Literacy: the ability to use technology effectively to develop a product,

Visual Literacy: the ability to read, understand, and draw conclusions using images.

READ MORE >>

What Are The 13 Types of Literacy? via Edvocate

What Are The 13 Types of Literacy ?

Edvocate: 1.29.2019 by Matthew Lynch

When we think of literacy, we usually think of the ability to read and write. However, the understanding of literacy that we possess is often curtailed by our educational experiences. Those of us in the field of education know that there are numerous types of literacy, all of which help us navigate life and fully engage in our democratic society. In this short piece, I will briefly define each of the 13 types of literacy, and I hope to cover each one in an upcoming article series.

Digital Literacy- By this definition, encompasses a wide range of skills, all of which are necessary to succeed in an increasingly digital world.

Media Literacy- According to the National Association for Media Literacy Education, media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication.

Recreational Literacy- Independent activities that cultivate positive attitudes, interests, and literacy habits.

Disciplinary Literacy- The treatment by experts in various disciplines of students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking abilities specific to the different disciplines.

Civic Literacy- Knowledge of how to actively participate and effect change in the local community and society.

Multicultural Literacy- The ability to understand and appreciate the parallels and differences between customs, values, and beliefs.

Information Literacy- A transformational process first described by Abilock where the learner needs to find, understand, evaluate, and use information in various forms for their own personal gain. This can include personal, social, or global purposes.

Functional Literacy- The literacy skills required to navigate society successfully.

Content Literacy- The use of literacy in specific areas such as math literacy or science literacy.

Early Literacy- What a child knows about communication, reading, and writing before they learn to read and write.

Developmental Literacy- A form of literacy instruction that takes a child’s stage of development in consideration.

Balanced Literacy- A reading program that uses several different reading methods to offer differentiated reading instruction.

Critical Literacy- Is a collection of dispositions and skills that cultivate innovative teaching, critical thinking, and active inquiry.  READ MORE >>

Advocacy 101 Video: Getting Your Library Story In Your Local News via ALA

Advocacy 101: Getting Your Library Story in your Local News

ALA: 1.24.2019

American Library Association

Advocacy Storytelling 101 shows how one ALA member from Cobb County Public Library built strong relationships with his local news media. By pitching his library story effectively to newswriters, the local newspaper put the library on the front page and highlighted for the entire community how the library has changed the lives of hundreds of children. While the video shows Tom’s success story, resources on *ALA’s advocacy website show step-by-step how to start reaching out to your local journalists and leverage social media to tell your story.  WATCH 04:22

#LibrariesTransform

*Use Traditional Media

Local media outlets base their news coverage on the priorities of their readers, and library professionals have unique insight into a community’s concerns. By building a relationship with news editors and reporters in your local media, you can join the ongoing conversation about issues that matter to you, your library and your community.

Decide what story you want to tell.

Reporters want to cover “news” – a hot new program or exciting guest speaker – but you can broaden the scope of the news value to cover the bigger story you want to tell: libraries strengthen communities.

➤ Offer a new angle on an existing issue or story. For example, put a human face on how budget decisions could impact individuals in your community – a great story when budget decisions are being made.

➤ Show a trend. If you want to pitch a Labor Day story focusing on services that strengthen local economies, you might mention that your library, like 73% of public libraries across the country, assists patrons with job applications and interviewing skills.

➤ Appeal to a decision maker’s interests. If your representative is on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, a story that highlights your library’s services to veterans illustrates why libraries are worth federal investment.  READ MORE >>