Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

Twenty years ago it was easier to identify fake news. There were the tabloid papers in the grocery store checkout line and the sensationalized “news” programs that promised inside looks at celebrity lives. Now, between the number of online information sites and the proliferation of social media apps, plus near constant mobile phone use, determining a story’s credibility seems to call for advanced detective skills. In her edWebinar “Fight Fake News: Media Literacy for Students,” Tiffany Whitehead, School Librarian for the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, says that’s exactly what we need to teach students. While today’s youth may be aware that not everything on the Internet is true, they don’t have the tools to evaluate accuracy and authenticity.

As more schools are moving towards digital learning environments, it is more important than ever to pay careful attention to the types of digital content students are using. With a large amount of educational digital content available, it can be overwhelming to find the best teaching tools for your students. Kecia Ray, the chair of the ISTE Board, explains, “There are a lot of options out there for free or fee, and there is the good, the bad and the indifferent.”