Chennai: When digital media are flooded with the wrong information on Covid-19, government and other subjects, it becomes increasingly important to help people, especially young students, distinguish between what is right and what doesn’t.
To help empower students, city schools have created a series of new lessons – how to find fake news.
“Consuming fake news not only leads to ignorance and hatred but also blocking their mental development,” said Bhavani Shankar, Principal of Lalaji Memorial Omega International School.
The school has produced an exclusive session where they analyze and compare news reports with online circulating, analyzing photos, information sources and evidence.
At Hindustan International School, the teacher discusses with secondary and secondary school students about news found on social media including whatsapp.
“Because all information is interesting, colorful, and abundant found online, students tend to find uncomplete truths.
We explain to them the need to distinguish, how much information must be taken and what type, so they don’t get lost,” said the head school C Bharati Lakshmi.
Parameshwaran Revathy, PS PS Middle School, said that in addition to asking students to read newspapers, they also made debates why it was important to analyze the credibility of the news and how they could use digital devices responsibly.
“We share links to OP-ed articles and discuss, with the opposite view.
We also insist that they do not forward random text on social media to others,” he said.
Education says schools play an important role in helping students handle information carefully, but it is also the responsibility of parents and caregivers to monitor their activities.
“We can help put the foundation, but parents can lead by giving examples.
One way is to not pass the biased view and hate,” said Bhavani Shankar.
While controlling false information can be difficult, they can have a conversation about what they read or look, he added.
“If a certain piece of information triggers emotions like anger, parents must evaluate it, see both parties, and are diligent.
They must give children the opportunity to discuss, because it will only get worse,” he said.