Teach the Teachers by Kristen Reando

Filter Bubbles

kreando — 2023-11-19 04:19:13 UTC

When you visit a website, it is easy to assume that you're seeing the same information as everyone else who visits the same website. Algorithms online track what you like to click on. Algorithms run on almost all websites. These algorithms provide you with information it believes you will like with the intent to eventually show mainly content that you will consume, and thus, creating a filter bubble. Filter bubbles prevent you from receiving information and perspectives that you haven't previously shown interest in, and therefore, prevent you from reading multiple sides of an issue. (GCF Global, N.D.)

Echo Chambers

kreando — 2023-11-19 23:22:51 UTC

When you only see information in your social media feeds that support your perspective and opinions, and not those of opposing perspectives and opinions, you may be experiencing an echo chamber. Echo Chambers are environments where people only encounter information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own. (PBS, 2022)

How Do We Escape FIlter Bubbles and Echo Chambers? Mismatch by Allsides Can Help!

kreando — 2023-11-20 00:18:44 UTC

Mismatch makes it easy for educators to schedule virtual dialogue between students. This platform allows students from opposite political, racial, geographical and socio-economic statuses to converse and find commonalities. The purpose of Mismatch is not to get different groups to agree but to get different groups to appreciate opinions different than their own. (Mismatch, N.D.)

Mismatch can make it easy for teachers to use to prevent their classrooms from turning into a filter bubble or an echo chamber.

Why Do Algorithms Matter?

kreando — 2023-11-20 00:38:52 UTC

To help middle school or high school students better understand algorithms, I would pair students up and have them use their own devices, preferably their Smartphones, to research an assigned topic on Google. I would have students compare and contrast their search results. I would then show students the attached video from PBS to help them better understand algorithms

Confirmation Bias

kreando — 2023-11-20 00:54:37 UTC

To help students understand confirmation bias, I recommend showing students the attached video.

Confirmation bias often means people ignore or leave out information that doesn't support their own thoughts or perspectives. Confirmation bias can also cause people to discredit any information or sources that support different perspectives than their own. This can lead to narrowed perspectives, preventing people from seeing the issue as a whole. It can also lead to poor decision-making. Confirmation bias may lead people to ignore available evidence which can lead to inaccurate assumptions. It can also cause polarized views, where issues are viewed as one extreme verses another, without any room for overlap. Confirmation bias can also lead to increased hostility as people become less willing to hear or understand opposing viewpoints. (Linkedin, 2023)

How to Prevent Confirmation Bias Culture in Your Classroom

kreando — 2023-11-20 01:05:51 UTC

It is important for teachers to avoid their own confirmation biases when instructing students, as students learn not only from what we say, but also from what we do. Below are tips from LinkedIn for teachers to use inside and outside their classrooms to avoid confirmation bias.

Seek out diverse perspectives- Actively seek out diverse perspectives from multiple sources. Have conversations with people who have differing opinions than you do. Confirmation bias thrives when we only subscribe to information that confirms our existing beliefs.
Challenge your assumptions- Everyone has assumptions that they bring to the table. To prevent confirmation bias, it is important to be aware of these assumptions and to remember to ask yourself the following questions: "What evidence do I have to support this assumption?" and " What evidence do I have that contradicts this assumption?"
Gather all evidence available- Make an effort to read all available evidence, especially that of thinking that doesn't agree with your existing thinking.
Be open-minded- Confirmation bias relies on ignoring beliefs/perspectives that differ from yours. Be open when hearing differing ways of thought and consider all new information- even information that doesn't confirm your existing beliefs.
Engage in critical thinking- Look at evidence objectively and consider differing explanations for encountered information. Question all information and consider all possible explanations without taking information at surface value.
(LinkedIn, 2023)

Living Room Conversations

kreando — 2023-11-20 02:38:43 UTC

To get staff talking about confirmation bias, filter bubbles and echo chambers, consider modifying talking points from Living Room Conversations. A staff that is aware of and examines their own confirmation biases, filter bubbles and echo chambers are better prepared to help students examine their own confirmation bias, filter bubbles and echo chambers. The organization supports consumers changing questions to fit their needs as long as credit is given to Living Room Conversations. " Living Room Conversations works to heal society by connecting people across divides - politics, age, gender, race, nationality, and more – through guided conversations proven to build understanding and transform communities." (Living Room Conversations, 2023) See the attached question guide.

Filter Bubble Lesson from Commonsense Education

kreando — 2023-11-20 02:45:14 UTC

This lesson shows students that their social media feeds and friends' posts tend to show them information that they already agree with. This lesson helps students understand filter bubbles and algorithms and how to see beyond them.

Lesson on Confirmation Bias from Commonsense Education

kreando — 2023-11-20 03:30:03 UTC

This lesson helps students to recognize when they use their confirmation bias when reading news articles to seek out information that we already think we know. This lesson will teach students to explore opposing opinions and ideas and to avoid coming to questionable conclusions.

Lesson on AI Algorithms

kreando — 2023-11-20 03:35:06 UTC

There is more content online than any one person can consume. One of the reasons AI algorithms were created was to filter information to you that will appeal to you. While this can be helpful, it can also be just as harmful. Only receiving one side of a story puts people in filter bubbles and supports confirmation bias. This can lead to one-sided thinking and beliefs. This lesson helps students to think critically on how AI algorithms are both helpful and and harmful.

Teacher Professional Development

kreando — 2023-11-21 00:56:45 UTC

If you are looking to educate yourself more on filter bubbles and how they are impacting the way modern-day people think, or perhaps even to start a book club with other teachers, consider reading The Filter Bubble: How the New Personalized Web is Changing What We Read and How We Think by Eli Pariser. Pariser's book looks at how algorithms can defeat the free flow of ideas that the Internet was created to provide. This book can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The audiobook may be purchased from Audible or Apple Books.

Podcasts More Your Thing?

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:06:29 UTC

Check out the Unlearning Playground's episode about confirmation bias. The podcast is hosted by Chetan Narang, who has a degree in software engineering but considers himself as a life coach, teacher and philosopher.

Another Podcast to Consider

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:10:09 UTC

Wishing you had learned media literacy skills in school? If you do, give this podcast a listen! Leading experts and teachers explain and discuss media literacy and give suggestions on how it should be taught.

National Association for Media Literacy Education, or NAMLE, and a Podcast

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:15:41 UTC

Matt Jordan, from the podcast, News Over Noise, speaks with NAMLE executive director Michelle Ciulla Lipkin and Education Manager Megan Fromm about media literacy education.

Break the Fake

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:24:02 UTC

The resources on this page can be used by teachers and/or students. Curated by Media Smarts, and organization out of Canada, there are resources for learning how to think critically, spotting fake news, suggestions to follow when spotting fake news and so much more.

Disinformation vs Misinformation

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:26:22 UTC

Learn the difference between these two important vocabulary terms and learn how to spot each!

Classroom Lesson: Help Students Determine if Something Online is Really Worth Sharing

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:29:57 UTC

In this lesson, students are provided with a variety of news articles, some real, some fake. Students use a flow chart to determine which of the articles are worth sharing via their social media feeds and which are not.

Classroom Lesson: How to Spot Breaking News and Missing Information

kreando — 2023-11-21 01:33:35 UTC

This lesson from Common Sense Education helps students understand what they're seeing when they receive a notification on their device of breaking news. This lesson helps students develop a critical eye that can detect incorrect and/or incomplete information.