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Introduction: Many people have started to refer to the time we are living in as the “misinformation age”. This is a period in human history where there is nearly unlimited access to all information -- however (!), some of this information is reliable (i.e. based in science, research, studies, etc.) while other information on the internet is simply made up or intentionally misleading! We need to employ our brain power (e.g. those critical thinking skills we've talk about) to sort through and evaluate the abundance of material we may encounter in our daily lives. We still do need to become informed and educated - but we need to do so in thoughtful ways.
For instance, podcasts have become a popular new communication method with the advent of online communication and portable digital devices. One can find podcasts about many and any topic, certainly including the sciences. Some podcasts are better than others in terms of their engagement and entertainment value, but also their accuracy of information. Learning to understand and assess their arguments is an important skill to develop.
Key Purpose: Develop your scientifically literacy skills in the misinformation age.
Key Purpose: Develop your scientifically literacy skills in the misinformation age.
Scientific literacy is the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity.
Qualities of the scientifically literate person include:
awareness of assumptions (their own and authors’),
respect for precision,
ability to separate fundamental concepts from the irrelevant or unimportant,
recognizing that scientific knowledge is continually developing and often builds upon previous theories, recognizing cause and effect
Being able to identify the main points in a science-related article or illustration
Being able to use given criteria for evaluating evidence and sources of information (e.g., identify supporting or refuting information and bias)
Being able to explain how science and technology affect individuals, society, and the environment
Instructions
Instructions
You are asked to subscribe and listen to a science podcast. You may be asked to write up a summary of a few episodes over the course of the school year. You may select any episode the podcast produces as long as your chosen episode directly relates to a science topic (certain technology topics may be considered) and is appropriate for school. If you are unsure, please allow me to verify your chosen podcast before starting.
Where to get started?
1) Read over the assignment (see the very bottom of this webpage)
2) Review the topics available for the different podcasts available and select a topic that interests you. Make sure the podcast is reputable - for instance, we should examine the people running the podcast for bias, expertise and reliability. See below for some examples of podcasts.
Note: if you find the podcast/topic boring - don't listen to it! You can select any topic that you find interesting and want to learn more about. This is about you becoming active in selecting your own learning in science - now and for any point in your future life.
Note: You can only see/access the assignment below if you are logged in with your SD61 Learn account.
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Related Topics
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