Teaching Students to Think Critically about News Sources

There’s no debate that advancements in digital technology and information sharing are valuable educational tools.  However, access to seemingly endless news and information creates a few dilemmas. One of them is how to determine the reliability of sources. Students who are “digital natives”—ones who can’t remember a time without the Internet—often assume what they read or watch on a screen is true simply because it’s there. Teachers have the challenge of correcting this assumption, and repeating, “Don’t believe everything you read or watch on a screen!” isn’t enough. The New York Times Learning Network recently listed tools, questions, activities, and case studies that can help teachers reduce digital naïveté. It’s a useful resource well worth checking out!