Sem2 - Fake News; Bias_2019-20_v1.1.pptx

Fake news

1. Understanding education research: Numbers, narratives, knowledge & nonsense Seminar 2: Fake news; Bias; (National truth and lies?)

2. Seminar overview Aims Develop our understanding of fake news, and the implications of fake news for a society that purports to base its decisions on facts Consider the extent to which bias is present in all our lives – and within ourselves Activities Fake news portfolio assignment National truth and lies (if not done in week 1) Discuss bias (if time)  

3. Any questions about any of the material in today's lecture?

4. Fake news portfolio assignment (PA1) Each person talk about their piece (to the entire class) We will have 4-6 presentations of 3-4 minutes each, then a short discussion about those presentations, then move onto the next 4-6 presentations… and so on This module has an active audience policy : Everyone needs to make at least one comment or ask at least one question during this session. This is a key part of engagement  

5. National truths, national lies Students get into country groups of roughly 3-4 (based on the country you’re from) Each group come up with 1-2 true facts about your country’s education system, and one lie Other groups can try to guess your group’s lie Or if there are several ‘strays’ (i.e. only 1 person from your country), you can form a judging panel

6. Bias: class discussion What do you think bias is? Examples? Have you heard of unconscious (aka implicit) bias?

7. Biased: academics, surgeons & students Academics rate women’s research articles higher if they don’t know they were written by women Students rate male teachers higher than female teachers

8. Bias: group discussion Get into mixed nationality groups Discuss your parents’ generation – what biases does that generation tend to have? Those of you who are from outside the UK: do your parents/family have stereotypes or biases about London? Wherever you’re from, what biases do you face or have you experienced here in the UK? What biases do immigrants to your country face? In China, are there biases about rural migrants to cities?  

9. Bias: possible extra discussion What are some stereotypes about nationalities , e.g. Americans, Brits, French, etc? Factors that might cause bias include: ??? nationality, ethnicity, gender, age, physical shape/size, looks, clothing, glasses, job, education level, uni choice, etc. Is there ‘ positive ’ as well as negative bias, e.g. thinking that certain groups are particularly good at certain things? Examples of positive and negative biases? We are products of our culture(s), and all cultures have (and reproduce) biases

10. Implicit bias: possible extras Watch and discuss this 2-minute NY Times video introducing implicit bias (l ink ) (Peanut butter and jelly is a super common American sandwich) Watch and discuss this: Violins and high heels ( link )