fact from fiction

FACT FROM FICTION

​According to a study done in 2018 by BigThink, 86% of American 15-year-olds can’t distinguish fact from opinion. As a parent myself, I found that shocking! I know that it's essential to teach our children how to discern fact from fiction in a world where misinformation can easily spread online, but it seems like a daunting task. So, I started researching a way to introduce activities into our everyday homeschooling tasks to provide a solid foundation for my student.

Here are some ways I found that you can help your child develop this skill:

1. Encourage critical thinking: Teach your child to question what they see and read online. Ask them to consider the source of the information, whether it's credible, and whether it's backed up by other reputable sources.

2. Promote media literacy: Help your child understand the different types of media and the techniques used to manipulate the audience. For example, teach them to recognize clickbait headlines, fake news stories, and photoshopped images.

3. Use fact-checking resources: There are many websites and apps available that can help verify the accuracy of information. For example, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact, and Snopes are excellent resources for checking the accuracy of news stories and other information.

​4. Discuss current events: Use real-world examples to help your child understand how misinformation can impact our society. For example, you could discuss how false information about vaccines has led to a rise in preventable diseases.

5. Be a role model: As a parent, it's essential to model good information literacy skills for your child. Be mindful of the information you consume and share, and always verify the accuracy of any information before sharing it with others.

Here are some online resources and exercises that can help reinforce these skills:

1. News Literacy Project: This organization provides lessons and resources to help students develop critical thinking skills and understand the role of the media in society.

2. Common Sense Media: This website offers tools and resources for teaching media literacy, including lesson plans, videos, and games.

3. The Stanford History Education Group: This organization offers free resources to help students develop critical thinking and fact-checking skills.

4. MediaWise for Teens: This YouTube channel provides tips and tricks for identifying fake news and misinformation.

5. The Fact-Checking Challenge: This game from the New York Times challenges players to determine the accuracy of news stories and provides feedback on their fact-checking skills.

Read the research findings from BigThink. 

As always, for homeschooling ideas go to Blossom Learning. Happy homeschooling!