The recent
emphasis on fake news has created dialogue about the role of a press in a democracy.
Yet, one of the foundations of a strong democracy is freedom of the press. It ensures that well-informed citizens will be able to actively participate in their local, state, and national governments while providing a way to expose injustices. So how do we mitigate the effects of fake news while recognizing the important role journalists and the press play in helping a democracy thrive? Today, on
World Press Freedom Day
, we consider a few ways.
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Topics:
Media Skills
Facebook’s recent admission that social media can have a negative influence on democracy is the most overt acknowledgment to date that the spread of fake news could have impacted the 2016 US presidential election. The recent surge of misinformation on social media for political gain is a call to action for educators to take a closer look at fake news as propaganda. But when does fake news cross that line?
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Topics:
Media Skills
Nearly two years ago, on August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri. News of the event swiftly spread across national media outlets and the shooting quickly became a flashpoint for a national discussion about race, policing, and justice in the United States.
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Topics:
Media Skills,
Journalism,
current events,
Facing Ferguson
Next week we will take the time to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. His message of calling people from all walks of life to work together in support of the common good is just as pertinent now as it was then. As we prepare to talk to our students about what Dr. King stood for, here are some digital tools to bring his words and ideas to life in your classroom. This round up will enhance your students’ ability to study his role in the Civil Rights Movement while inspiring them to participate as upstanders in their own communities.
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Topics:
Choosing to Participate,
Civil Rights,
Media Skills,
Online Learning,
Facing Technology
This month marks 100 years since the start of the Armenian Genocide. This event raises important questions. How do historical events influence our identity and our perception of the "other"? Why do genocides frequently take place under the cover of war? What choices do individuals, groups, and nations have when responding to genocide and other instances of mass violence?
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Topics:
Antisemitism,
Armenian Genocide,
EdTech,
Media Skills,
Assessment,
Online Learning,
Flipped Classroom,
Facing Technology
I remember driving to work one morning in 2008, vaguely paying attention to the DJ discussing Ashton Kutcher‘s recent Twitter rant about noisy neighbors. I had no idea what Twitter was.I was 25 at the time, right about at the stage in my life where adulthood began to officially set in and my knowledge of all things trendy began to rapidly decrease.
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Topics:
Professional Development,
Antisemitism,
Teaching Resources,
Social Media,
Twitter,
EdTech,
PLN,
Media Skills,
Online Learning,
Critical Thinking,
Facing Technology
Happy back-to-school season! We hope the academic year is off to a terrific start and are excited to support you with new readings, streaming video, lesson ideas, webinars, and other opportunities for professional development.
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Topics:
Facing History and Ourselves,
Video,
Media Skills,
new website,
differentiated instruction,
Webinars,
Online Learning,
Critical Thinking,
Facing Technology
With summer easing its way into fall, we all are busy thinking about strategies and resources to bring into the classroom this school year.
As a Facing History program associate and former history teacher, I try to work in activities and lessons that build critical reading skills, which got me thinking: What if an educator were to do something similar using film clips and text-dependent questions?
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Topics:
Film,
Facing History and Ourselves,
Video,
Civil Rights,
EdTech,
Media Skills,
Assessment,
Flipped Classroom,
Facing Technology
The annual International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference is the biggest educational technology gathering in the U.S. This year’s ISTE conference, held in June in Atlanta, Georgia, set a new attendance record, drawing over 16,000 people from 67 countries. Here’s my take on hot trends from my time at the conference.
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Topics:
Social Media,
EdTech,
Media Skills,
Online Learning,
Critical Thinking,
Facing Technology
