S3-30010
How Fake News Impacts The World
Fake news causes confusion, undermines trust in reliable sources, and manipulates emotions and biases. It threatens democracy by influencing voters and weakening democratic institutions. To fight fake news, we need critical thinking, media literacy, accurate reporting, fact-checking, and diverse perspectives.
Activity Time
STEM Concept
Subject & Grades
Creativity
15
minutes
All
6th-12th
Connections between STEM Concepts, Learning Targets and Standards
Learning Objective
Students will identify and apply creative-thinking techniques to identify real world issues.
Students will understand how these skills relate to their confidence and success.
Success Criteria
Students will be able to explain why the steps involved in creative thinking are needed.
Students will identify and use the appropriate creative-thinking techniques.
Students will apply creative-thinking techniques to arrive at a solution.
Pathway 6: Students collaborate to explore genuine inquiries throughout their studies.
Pathways 7: Students learn STEM/STEAM independently with the guidance of skilled educators who facilitate their learning effectively.
Pathway 11: Presentations serve as evidence that STEM culture is being implemented.
Pathway 14: STEM/STEAM students use research to support claims, collect evidence, analyze data, and use evidence-based arguments to ensure daily integration of STEM concepts.
Activity Introduction
This video challenges you to think critically about the issues of fake news. Fake news spreads confusion and misinformation, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish between accurate and fabricated information, thus eroding trust in reliable sources of news and journalism. Fake news fuels divisions by manipulating emotions and biases, that reinforce preexisting beliefs. It also threatens democracy by, influencing voters, and undermining the integrity of democratic institutions. Combatting fake news requires critical thinking, media literacy, accurate reporting, fact-checking, and embracing diverse perspectives.
[Click image to enlarge]
Prompts for group activities
What’s the real problem?
The real critical issue with fake news is its potential to deceive and misinform, undermining trust in reliable sources and distorting public understanding of important events and issues.
If you were a journalist combating fake news, what innovative strategies or tools would you use to verify information and ensure accurate reporting.
How might you design an educational campaign or interactive platform to help others develop critical thinking skills and spot fake news in today's digital age?
If you could create a game or app that raises awareness about the dangers of fake news, what features and challenges would you include to engage and educate players?
If fake news vanished entirely, how would society change, what positive transformations would occur, and how could trust in media and information sources be rebuilt?
Step 1: Watch the video
The rise of 'fake news', manipulation and 'alternative facts' - BBC Newsnight
Activity Tips
Remind the students to write down words they don’t understand or questions that immediately come to mind about the topic they’re watching.
Tell them to be rady to share with their group.
Step 2:
Group Session
After the video, divide students into groups of 3 or 4 and let the students begin their discussions while you circulate; it’s all about what THEY think and feel. Ask them to listen carefully to their friends as they might have different opinions to them.
Step 3:
Assessment
Ask the students:
Ask the students who they believe the best listeners and best team players are from this activity.
Ask them to justify their answers in a simple sentence.
Explain to them that the idea is everyone improves both their listening and teamwork skills over time.
Ask the students to summarize the video in 6-8 words only.