On the Right Track for Scientific Literacy

The authors layout a lesson unit which teaches the students the how to become "savvy information consumers". A collaborative effort between an English and a science teacher yields a comprehe... See More

The authors layout a lesson unit which teaches the students the how to become "savvy information consumers". A collaborative effort between an English and a science teacher yields a comprehensive tutorial on how to evaluate science news articles and tabloid headlines.Students learn how to evaluate sources, to recognize propaganda, to combat psuedo-science, to apply research skills, to explore hypotheses and to organize information for an oral presentation.The students analyze sensationalized science articles through the use of a t-chart, research, and written communication which is orally presented. This is a timely topic to be addressed in light of all the information students are bombarded with over the internet. They have to be able to sift through the pseudo-science in order to function as scientifically-literate adults.My only suggestion to improve this lesson would be to include a discussion of the ways in which data can be manipulated in order to support a study.