Misinformation is seemingly everywhere, and it is infectious. While this is not a new problem, the modern world gives us - and our students - ready access to fire hoses of both information and misinformation. Attempts to correct misinformation after its introduction can backfire and reinforce the information in the people’s minds. But there are effective strategies against misinformation. One is to prebunk, rather than debunk - give people strategies for recognizing misinformation before they receive it so that they are not misled. Another is to discuss misinformation in a “truth sandwich,” where the misinformation is both preceded and followed by correct information.
This workshop engages participants in these and other strategies in ways that can be applied immediately in the classroom. We use examples specific to climate change, but the general approaches are broadly applicable. Some examples in the workshop draw directly from a new misinformation effort by a U.S. science-denial organization. We use their materials that are designed to mislead to recognize materials that are designed to mislead.
We draw from our Teacher-Friendly Guide to Climate Change (available free online: [ Ссылка ]). The FAQ chapter of the book addressed earlier efforts of science denial.
