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Breakstone, J., McGrew, S., Smith, M., Ortega, T., & Wineburg, S. (2018). Why we need a new approach to teaching digital literacy. Phi Delta Kappan, 99(6), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721718762419
Each day, individuals are bombarded with digital information. Breakstone et al. (2018) proclaim that there needs to be a reform in teaching digital literacy. Recently, the approach to evaluating the credibility of digital literacy has relied on using checklists. A standard checklist teachers propose is the CRAAP test, Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. According to Breakston et al. (2018), the problem with checklists is they are often overly cumbersome, and website templates can now make questionable sources look credentialed.
The authors in this paper propose that teachers educate learners to evaluate sources like that of fact-checkers. According to the author's research, fact-checkers do not use checklists to evaluate their sources; instead, they approach unfamiliar information by reading later. This research found that many individuals tend to read vertically, ineffectively hyperfocusing on the article in question instead of using web resources to evaluate the source's credibility. In this study, 197 undergraduate students and 95 11th graders in an Advance Placement History course were asked to verify whether the website mimimuswage.com was a reliable source. The results indicated that only 5% of the undergraduate and 10% of the Advanced Placement students could correctly identify the source. Many students need to focus more on the source without using outside websites to verify its accuracy and credibility. This research implies a severe issue with how digital natives analyze information online. The authors recommend that educators be trained in providing digital research support across the curriculum.
This paper resonates with me as I traverse my doctoral journey. Digital literacy and evaluating sources are things all individuals need to be aware of, especially as the narrative changes with the implementation of AI in our digital world. The paper by Leander and Buriss (2020) highlighted how AI continues to evolve in digital literacy, and many people need to realize how AI is influencing their perceptions. To stay abreast of the ever-evolving landscape of digital literacy, we must consistently refine our abilities and sharpen our critical analysis to navigate the complexities of the digital era effectively.
References:
Leander, K. M., & Burriss, S. K. (2020). Critical literacy for a posthuman world: When people read, and become, with machines. British Journal of Educational Technology, 51(4), 1262-1276.
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