Media, Internet Literacy Needs Increase in US Schools
2023-03-22
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1More educators and researchers are bringing attention to misinformation spread through the internet and social media.
2Teachers already face many difficulties.
3Adding what is called media literacy can be another be a problem.
4The concern is how some subjects are seen only as political issues.
5This could include issues like misinformation about vaccines, increasing world temperatures and even Russia's war in Ukraine.
6The Associated Press says that those opposed to teaching internet literacy say it is the same as thought control.
7This prevents some teachers from using it in their classes.
8Julie Smith is an expert on media literacy. She teaches at Webster University in the state of Missouri.
9She said teaching media literacy is not teaching what to think, but how to think.
10She said: "It's engaging about engaging your brain. It's asking, 'Who created this? Why? Why am I seeing it now? How does it make me feel and why?'"
11Erin McNeil is a mother from Massachusetts who has worked as a reporter.
12She said that media literacy is a skill that is just as important as computer engineering for the economy.
13She created a nonprofit group called Media Literacy Now.
14The organization supports digital literacy education.
15"Basic communication is part of our information economy, and there will be huge implications for our economy if we don't get this right," McNeil said.
16Shawn Lee teaches social studies in Seattle, Washington.
17He sees internet and media literacy as important for modern life as driver's education in high school.
18He has taught about double-checking online reports, getting information from more than a few places and using critical thinking.
19He also created an organization for teachers to share resources.
20"This technology is so new that no one taught us how to use it," Lee said.
21"People are like, 'There's nothing we can do...I disagree with that. I would like to think the republic can survive an algorithm."
22Teaching internet literacy to fight misinformation may be more effective than new laws and changes to algorithms.
23Some US states like New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas have added new standards for teaching internet literacy.
24Subjects can include how the internet and social media work, how to find misinformation by looking at many sources.
25Other ways of identifying misinformation might include looking for missing background information or recognizing emotional headlines.
26Media literacy is often included in social studies classes like history or government classes offered at the high school level.
27But experts say it is never too early or late for people to become better internet users.
28Media and internet literacy is taught around the world.
29In Finland, children learn about the internet in preschool when they are about four or five years old.
30The program is part of an anti-misinformation program for the population to be more aware and resistant to false internet claims.
31Finland and Canada have developed programs over the years to teach young people about the media.
32The goal is to get young people to understand what in the news and on the internet is a fact, and what is not.
33Finland has fought misinformation spread by its neighbor, Russia.
34Finland expanded its programs after the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea.
35Learning about misinformation does not stop in school.
36Finland has public service announcements and programs for older adults who are more at risk of misinformation than younger people, who seem more at home on the internet.
37Petri Honkonen is Finland's minister of science and culture.
38He spoke to the Associated Press during a recent trip to Washington, DC.
39His trip included discussions of Finland's actions to fight internet misinformation.
40"Media literacy was one of our priorities before the time of the internet.
41The point is critical thinking, and that is a skill that everybody needs more and more.
42We have to somehow protect people. We also must protect democracy," he said.
43Media literacy programs in Canada began many years ago but have been expanded to the digital age.
44Mathew Johnson is the director of education at MediaSmarts, a nonprofit organization that runs media literacy programs.
45Johnson said media literacy is accepted as an important part of preparing students in Canada.
46Media and internet literacy is often compared to driver's education.
47"We need speed limits, we need well-designed roads and good regulations to ensure cars are safe.
48But we also teach people how to drive safely," Johnson said.
49Johnson added that people need to have the tools to think critically about what they see and read.
50The internet and social media can be seen like the wave of new automobiles about 100 years ago.
51It took almost 30 years before the first driver's education classes were offered.
52The government passed laws for vehicle safety and driver behavior.
53The auto industry added safety devices like seat belts and air bags.
54This combination of government, industry and educators is considered the model that is needed for internet and media literacy.
55Education is needed for an effective answer to fight internet misinformation.
56I'm Faith Pirlo.
57And I'm Dan Novak.
1More educators and researchers are bringing attention to misinformation spread through the internet and social media. 2Teachers already face many difficulties. Adding what is called media literacy can be another be a problem. The concern is how some subjects are seen only as political issues. This could include issues like misinformation about vaccines, increasing world temperatures and even Russia's war in Ukraine. 3The Associated Press says that those opposed to teaching internet literacy say it is the same as thought control. This prevents some teachers from using it in their classes. 4Julie Smith is an expert on media literacy. She teaches at Webster University in the state of Missouri. She said teaching media literacy is not teaching what to think, but how to think. 5She said: "It's engaging about engaging your brain. It's asking, 'Who created this? Why? Why am I seeing it now? How does it make me feel and why?'" 6Erin McNeil is a mother from Massachusetts who has worked as a reporter. She said that media literacy is a skill that is just as important as computer engineering for the economy. She created a nonprofit group called Media Literacy Now. The organization supports digital literacy education. 7"Basic communication is part of our information economy, and there will be huge implications for our economy if we don't get this right," McNeil said. 8Shawn Lee teaches social studies in Seattle, Washington. He sees internet and media literacy as important for modern life as driver's education in high school. 9He has taught about double-checking online reports, getting information from more than a few places and using critical thinking. He also created an organization for teachers to share resources. 10"This technology is so new that no one taught us how to use it," Lee said. "People are like, 'There's nothing we can do...I disagree with that. I would like to think the republic can survive an algorithm." 11Teaching internet literacy to fight misinformation may be more effective than new laws and changes to algorithms. Some US states like New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas have added new standards for teaching internet literacy. Subjects can include how the internet and social media work, how to find misinformation by looking at many sources. Other ways of identifying misinformation might include looking for missing background information or recognizing emotional headlines. 12Media literacy is often included in social studies classes like history or government classes offered at the high school level. But experts say it is never too early or late for people to become better internet users. 13Media and internet literacy is taught around the world. In Finland, children learn about the internet in preschool when they are about four or five years old. The program is part of an anti-misinformation program for the population to be more aware and resistant to false internet claims. 14Finland and Canada have developed programs over the years to teach young people about the media. The goal is to get young people to understand what in the news and on the internet is a fact, and what is not. 15Finland has fought misinformation spread by its neighbor, Russia. Finland expanded its programs after the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea. 16Learning about misinformation does not stop in school. Finland has public service announcements and programs for older adults who are more at risk of misinformation than younger people, who seem more at home on the internet. 17Petri Honkonen is Finland's minister of science and culture. He spoke to the Associated Press during a recent trip to Washington, DC. His trip included discussions of Finland's actions to fight internet misinformation. 18"Media literacy was one of our priorities before the time of the internet. The point is critical thinking, and that is a skill that everybody needs more and more. We have to somehow protect people. We also must protect democracy," he said. 19Media literacy programs in Canada began many years ago but have been expanded to the digital age. Mathew Johnson is the director of education at MediaSmarts, a nonprofit organization that runs media literacy programs. Johnson said media literacy is accepted as an important part of preparing students in Canada. 20Media and internet literacy is often compared to driver's education. 21"We need speed limits, we need well-designed roads and good regulations to ensure cars are safe. But we also teach people how to drive safely," Johnson said. 22Johnson added that people need to have the tools to think critically about what they see and read. 23The internet and social media can be seen like the wave of new automobiles about 100 years ago. It took almost 30 years before the first driver's education classes were offered. The government passed laws for vehicle safety and driver behavior. The auto industry added safety devices like seat belts and air bags. 24This combination of government, industry and educators is considered the model that is needed for internet and media literacy. Education is needed for an effective answer to fight internet misinformation. 25I'm Faith Pirlo. 26And I'm Dan Novak. 27Faith Pirlo adapted this story from the Associated Press for Learning English. 28__________________________________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30literacy -n. enough knowledge about a subject to ensure that someone understands what it is; literally the ability to read and write 31engage - v. to get involved or be interested in something 32digital - adj. characterized by electronic and computerized technology 33implication - n. a result or effect 34double-checking -to consider something twice to make sure you have not missed something or left something undone 35algorithm - n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process 36standards -n. (often pl.) the basic level of ability acceptable for the understanding of or ability to use something 37aware - adj. knowing that something (such as a situation, condition, or problem) exists 38priority - n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first 39ensure - v. to make sure that something happens 40_________________________________________________________________ 41What do you think about this story? 42We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 43Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.