Exploring digital literacy
Did you know?
Did you know the NBA logoman is based off a photograph of former player, Jerry West?
Are you ready to learn about digital literacy? Let’s begin!
Have you ever encountered the term 'fake news'? What about 'misinformation' and 'disinformation'? As you develop your skills in digital literacy, you'll discover strategies to help you determine whether or not information is accurate.
Try it!
When you think of “digital literacy,” what are a few words, images, or ideas that come to mind?
Record your ideas in the following mind map provided or in another method of your choice.
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Digital literacy
James Harden
Basketball is a game of mental toughness. It's about being able to stay focused and not getting rattled under pressure.
James Harden, #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers (2023), evading Jaylen Brown, #7 of the Boston Celtics (2023), and Malcolm Brogdon, #13 of the Boston Celtics (2023), May 14, 2023.
Do you always know if what you're reading online is true?
Because there is so much digital information, it can be difficult to determine whether it’s reliable. Digital citizens should take responsibility for how they search and interpret information online.
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, “Digitally literate students recognize the rights and responsibilities, as well as the opportunities, that come with living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world.”
Source:
Ministry of Education. (2020). Transferable skills.
Government of Ontario.
https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/transferable-skills
Misinformation and disinformation
Definition
Misinformation
Misinformation is false information that is spread regardless of intent to mislead.
If a publication spreads information that is wrong, but they did not know it was wrong, the publication has spread misinformation. In other words, misinformation is a term for any kind of wrong or false information.
For example, if you shared an article without checking the source or verifying the facts, you may have accidentally shared misinformation.
Explore this!
Explore the following video about the forms of misinformation. What are some forms of misinformation, and why are they effective?
Are you aware of the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Definition
Disinformation
Disinformation is deliberately misleading, biased information, manipulated narrative or facts, and propaganda.
Take a moment and reflect on your learning!
When an individual or group coordinates a complicated plan of spreading disinformation, it is often referred to as a disinformation campaign.
Explore this!
Check out the following video about disinformation. Who creates disinformation, and why?
Ideally, sources you use to explore information should be fact-based and fact-checked. Websites ending with .com, .org, and .net can be purchased and used by any person.
The ending .org is usually used by non-profit organizations which may be trying to persuade rather than educate.
Websites ending in .edu are reserved for colleges and universities. Canadian websites have a .ca ending.
Strategies
The following are a few strategies to use before deciding whether a piece of information is trustworthy:
- Check the author’s credentials. Is it a reputable expert or source?
- Are the sources named?
- What was the method of data collection, and what was the sample size?
- Is the information current?
- What do other experts say?
- Who funded the study? Is there a conflict of interest?
Try it!
Review the following headlines and their sources. Then, determine if the information and source is accurate and trustworthy or inaccurate and untrustworthy.
For each of the following questions, select the correct answer from the options provided. Then, press Check Answer to check your understanding.
Nice work! To refine your skills as a digital citizen it’s important to consider not only the content of a headline, but also the source.
NBA Moment
In 2019, the Toronto Raptors won the NBA Championship.
… it often isn't enough to win a championship. You still need the perfect confluence of luck, timing and performance.
Conducting research
Try it!
Explore the previous quote from Jamie Strashin that you encountered at the end of the Gametime section.
How can you determine if the quote is accurate?
Research the quote using your preferred search engine. Once you have discovered the article that this quote is allegedly from, review it yourself to be sure it’s an authentic quote.
Check if you can do the same with other quotes, facts, or statistics!
Excellent work! You may continue to reflect on how to evaluate information critically. But first, you deserve a break!