EdTechTrek

Do kids really have this perspective? Is it really about Internet-based information or is it simply about information in general? I tend to think that if we handed out a legitimate-looking paper document in class, the students would have the same response. A great deal of writing has been generated on the topic of digital information literacy, but I think the same ideas hold true sans the “digital”. We need to assist students in looking at all information sources critically instead of accepting them “carte blanche”. I like this post by Michele Martin that contrasts the perspectives of today’s youth vs. today’s adults. In contrast, I think what kids and adults alike need most in this respect are to be equipped with effective tools and skills for finding and filtering Internet-based information. Granted, online sources of information bring the need for some unique evaluation skills, but perhaps the larger issue here is that we haven’t done such a good job of having our students evaluate information in general. We too often require assignments that simply require regurgitative types of responses and not enough critical examination, comparing/contrasting, justifying, persuasion, and other higher levels of critical thinking. I think if we all get in the habit of critically thinking about and evaluating the information that we receive, the transition to doing so online becomes more natural. Certainly, we should not check our brains at the door when using online sources of information, but neither should we when picking up a book, magazine, or multimedia source.