Sense and Nonsense: Teaching Journalism and Science Students to Be Advocates for Science and Information Literacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-226
Author(s):  
Katherine Reed ◽  
Sara Shipley Hiles ◽  
Peter Tipton
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Stem Majors ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Vested Interests ◽  
Human Tendency ◽  
And Mathematics

Long before “fake news” became a catchphrase, misguided beliefs about scientific truths undermined the free exercise of democracy and personal decision-making. Journalistic norms such as providing false balance in the name of “objectivity,” deliberate manipulation by vested interests, and the human tendency toward confirmation bias combined to enable the dissemination of damaging misinformation about tobacco, climate change, vaccines, nuclear power, genetically modified foods, and other topics critical to the health and welfare of the modern world. This article examines an innovative new course designed to teach a mixed group of journalism and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors to evaluate expertise and bias, examine data and misrepresentation, and develop evidence-based communication on complex scientific topics. The course covered concepts such as fact-checking, validation, fraud, the “backfire effect,” confirmation bias, limitations of the scientific method, conspiracy theories, misuse of statistics, and the role of journalists and scientists as truth-tellers in society. Journalism and science students learned to communicate with each other and with their respective audiences. A series of critical thinking assignments culminated in a final project where students, working in mixed teams, developed an interactive multimedia project communicating a controversial science topic to the public. This interdisciplinary course is offered as one model for teaching science literacy and information literacy to journalism and STEM students.

scholarly journals Briefs

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (02) ◽  
pp. 426-427
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Graduate School ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Summer Institute ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Research Papers ◽  
Program Goal ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Duke University ◽  
Program Funding

The 2013 APSA RBSI Program has received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to continue the RBSI for 2013. Additional program funding is provided by Duke University and APSA. Each summer, the Institute gives 20 students a look at the world of graduate study with a program of two transferable credit courses, one in quantitative analysis and one in race and American politics, to introduce the intellectual demands of graduate school and political science research methods. For a final project for both courses, students prepare original, empirical research papers, and top students are given the opportunity to present their research at APSA's Annual Meeting. Named in honor of the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner and former APSA President, Ralph J. Bunche, the Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) program goal is to encourage students to pursue academic careers in political science. Students were notified of their acceptance into this year's program in mid-March. For more information about the program, visitwww.apsanet.org/rbsi.

scholarly journals The dilemma of English as a medium of instruction policy in science college programs

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1045-1060
Author(s):  
Munassir Alhamami ◽  
Abdullah Almelhi
Keyword(s):  
Native Language ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Intensive English Program ◽  
Language Of Instruction ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
College Programs ◽  
Current Program ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Undergraduate Science

Achieving science undergraduate programs learning outcomes relies on the students’ proficiency in the language of instruction, a challenge that many policymakers ignore. This study is to understand the influence of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) policy in four undergraduate science programs, namely, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics, in Saudi Arabia. The data were collected from the following groups of participants: 1461 science alumni records, 769 current undergraduate science students’ surveys, and 111 science university instructors’ surveys. The results of alumni records indicated that grades of the intensive English program in the first year predict the alumni cumulative grade point average (GPA) once they finish their four-year program. The results demonstrated that the higher is the alumni’s English proficiency, the better is their cumulative GPA. The results of the current science students’ questionnaire showed their preferred language of instruction could be predicted by their attitudes and society’s attitudes. Most of these students preferred to learn sciences in their native language (Arabic), which contradicted the policy of the current program. The instructors’ questionnaire results showed that instructors held divergent perspectives on the usage of EMI and students’ native language in the undergraduate science programs. To conclude, educationists and programs policymakers need to locate more attention and interventions toward the language of instruction. It is also recommended that universities provide science students with more English courses. Science students should also have English for science purposes courses to familiarize them with the science terms and prepare them to read science materials.

scholarly journals Transforming Confirmation Bias to Generate Critical Consciousness in News/Information Literacy and Social Science Courses

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
James H. Wittebols
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Critical Consciousness ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Social World ◽  
Literacy Education ◽  
The Self ◽  
Critical Education ◽  
Science Courses ◽  
The World

This paper synthesizes theory and research on confirmation bias (CB), curiosity, and news/information literacy education with the goal of understanding how helping students critique their tendency to engage in CB spurs curiosity and critical consciousness about learning. Curiosity about the self is spurred when people realize their CB tendencies. Curiosity about the larger social world is spurred when students learn how CB affects the way they look at the world. A flipped classroom approach reflects the work of Paulo Freire, who argued critical education should be experiential with faculty playing a facilitating, rather than an “expert” role.

scholarly journals Konsep dan Praktik Literasi Informasi Untuk Mahasiswa: Kasus Mahasiswa Pekerja Paruh Waktu di UPT Perpustakaan UIN Walisongo

Pustakaloka ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Bahrul Ulumi
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Information Ethics ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Part Time ◽  
Information Skills ◽  
Concept Of Information

This article reveals  the pratice of information literacy done by students writing final project and working as part time workers at main library. It employs qualitattive approach which is considered the appropriate method to explore how these students implement their information skills to takle their final duties. The research shows that they partially comprehend the concept of information since they actively took part only in library orientation, as a result, they just a bit know about the concept of information ethics, although they are able to correctly finish their final works.

scholarly journals Science & the Senses: Perceptions & Deceptions

2012 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 145-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Stansfield
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Sensory Systems ◽  
Sense Organs ◽  
Cognitive Error ◽  
Biology Textbooks ◽  
Sensory Signals ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
Human Tendency ◽  
Derived Data

Science requires the acquisition and analysis of empirical (sense-derived) data. Given the same physical objects or phenomena, the sense organs of all people do not respond equally to these stimuli, nor do their minds interpret sensory signals identically. Therefore, teachers should develop lectures on human sensory systems that include some common examples of sensory limitations, variations, deficiencies, malfunctions, and diseases (as discussed herein) because they have important implications for conducting scientific investigations, science education, and introspection that are seldom included in biology textbooks. Students need to be made aware of the human tendency to self deception in order to avoid the cognitive error of confirmation bias.

scholarly journals Overview of Pakistan's Electricity Crisis, Generation-Mix and Renewable energy scenarios

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamran Yousaf Awan ◽  
Abdul Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Electric Power ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Slow Development ◽  
Electricity Crisis ◽  
Electricity Shortage

Electricity is a basic need of the modern world. It is impossible for an economy to sustain without electricity. Pakistan, despite having the enormous energy resources, is facing acute shortage of Electricity. The Countrys electricity demand is rising at the rate of 11% annually, while incremental rate of production is fairly flat. Presently, only 15055MW of Electric Power is being generated while peak demand has reached up to 23953MW. Therefore, nation has to strive for meeting the deficiency of 8899 MW. Installed Power Generation Capacity of Pakistan is approximately 19,855 MW among which 67.2% is generated from thermal sources (oil and gas), 29.4% from hydel, 3.3% from nuclear and 0.1% from coal. Due to increased cost of petroleum products, slow development of hydel and nuclear power generation and negligible development of coal power generation, Country is facing severe electricity crisis. This article provides the overview of electricity shortage, problems associated with energy-mix used for power generation and root causes of electricity shortage in Pakistan. It also highlights the importance and availability of Pakistans indigenous energy resources, which can be economically used for electric power generation.

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