Beyond CRAAP: Critical Thinking in the Age of Fake News

Abstract

In this age of fake news, clickbait, and alternative facts, how can we equip students to find the truth? While fake news is not a new concept, its ubiquity has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is fabricated. Library professionals have long been in the business of teaching critical thinking and source evaluation. How can we leverage this knowledge to teach students to be confident information consumers and creators? This session will review online learning content created by librarians at Brock University, including a media literacy tutorial for students in the Teacher Education program, and an online workshop on identifying fake news and critically evaluating news information. We will explore the importance of teaching media literacy and critical thinking skills, outline strategies for moving beyond the checklist approach to evaluating information, and share successes, challenges and next steps.