Don’t Believe Everything That You Read! Information/Media Literacy

Description of this lesson: When it comes to the information that we are reading, hearing, and passing along, it is no wonder that it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine its validity.

According to the Pew Research Center, “one in five Americans receive their daily news intake from social media platforms. In that same survey, 64 percent of adults said “fake news” caused confusion on basic facts, and 23 percent said they had shared “fake news,” either knowingly or unknowingly.”

To this end, it is more important than ever to incorporate information/media literacy instructional strategies and activities into the ABE classroom. Moreover, these strategies and activities are beneficial for all levels of students and can be delivered within all types of instruction.

This adaptable lesson will help students become more critical readers and listeners in this age of mass information and, depending on class time, can be taught during one or multiple sessions. To be most effective, it should be taught after lessons/discussions about the First Amendment (especially freedom of speech and freedom of the press) and the role(s) of media in society.

Level of students targeted: ABE 4, 5 and 6