Monday, February 22, 2010

Listening: Propanda, Black Public Relations and Mind Control



I have found a great listening practice for you. It is a short series of videos on You Tube:Propaganda, Black Public Relations and Mind Control. The information is very relevant to your need to develop media literacy skills and the presentation is excellent. The presenter speaks slow enough for learners to understand and in a style that is easily comprehended. IF you like this video, there are several more by the group for your listening practice.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The Problem with Wikipedia



Many of you are undoubtebly familiar with wikipedia. Many students turn to it when they begin their research. The ease of reaching information on wikipedia and the internet in general while seeming to be a great strength and benefit also represents a great weakness and danger inherent in the internet. Because it is so easy to put information onto the web as well as delete it, students must be careful with the sources they chose and should continue to use libraries and books as part of their research in order to get a more balanced and complete view of the subject they are researching. We are well aware of the fact that since anything can be found on the web, not everything that is found there is of equal reliability. A recent article about Climategate and the corruption of wikipedia point to the dangers of using the internet alone for research. THis article explains how a wikipedia adminstrator deleted articles, changed information and so on to fit his own opinions of the Climategate issue. This scandal underscores the larger issue of the need for students to question, question, question. Do not blindly accept anything that others tell you, including this writer. You must learn to evaluate what others tell you is the truth, especially experts.You must develop the habit of questioning what others tell you and find your own point of view. As knowledge is power, information is used as a weapon in this world. Eductional institutions are particularly important battlefields for the minds of people to suit the interests of those who create and support these institutions. Everyone has an agenda, everyone has something they are trying to sell you. The normal human approach of looking for convenience and ways to make things as easy as possible is used to the benefit of those who are fighting these information wars. They know most of you won't check to see if what they say is the truth. You have been trained to trust authorities and experts so when they trot out an expert to tell you what they want you to believe, they know that most of you will fall for misinformation and disinformation. Don't follow the herd. Know your own mind and be your own person.