Tree octopus exposes internet illiteracy: Do You believe?
Sprouted: 470 days ago
Is this creature capable of exposing shocking internet illiteracy?
Donald Leu, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, conducted a U.S. Department of Education-funded study of internet literacy among so-called “digital natives,†fabricating the tree octopus to test students’ ability to evaluate information they find on the internet.
Researchers asked students to find out information about the endangered Pacific Northwest tree octopus. Students had no problem locating a Web site dedicated to the cause, http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ “but insisted on the existence of the made-up story, even after researchers explained the information on the website was completely fabricated,†according to a press release.
Donald Leu, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, conducted a U.S. Department of Education-funded study of internet literacy among so-called “digital natives,†fabricating the tree octopus to test students’ ability to evaluate information they find on the internet.
Researchers asked students to find out information about the endangered Pacific Northwest tree octopus. Students had no problem locating a Web site dedicated to the cause, http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/ “but insisted on the existence of the made-up story, even after researchers explained the information on the website was completely fabricated,†according to a press release.
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"Most students “simply have very little in the way of critical evaluation skills,†Leu said. “They may tell you they don’t believe everything they read on the Internet, but they do.â€
Whoomp there it is.
Public education simply is not teaching analytical critical thinking skills.
And you have a bunch of holier-than-thou textbookheads who think that the 2/3 compromise was a "big racist thing."
The North (non-slavery) states wanted slaves NOT TO BE COUNTED at all....because that would give more representation to slave-HOLDING states.
The South (pro-slavery) states wanted the slaves to be counted (but NOT to VOTE)....so that they could have the electoral victory.
In public school...the textbook is king...and it's bullshit. -
...I would still buy the T-shirt to help perpetuate the rumor of the existence of Octopus paxarbolis. -
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I see you don't know squat about how media operate. Yes, it's entirely possible to tell if a source is legitimate -- by seeking out corroborating evidence from legitimate sources. In the case of a "tree octupus," I'd cull through various veterinary and similar journals to see if there are any other mentions of it. Barring that: It's a non story. Used to be a time when reporters had to have at least three sources before running with something. Now all they need is one rumor.
But, the larger issue is: There are a lot of morons running around thinking because Google produced a Web site after they did a search query, suddenly whatever they find is a "fact."
But, the only truism when it comes to the Internet is: Not everything on the Internet is factual, and not everything factual is on the Internet. -
A couple of points seem to be in play here.
Children are not taught critical analytical skills, thinking for ones self and research. Schools have stopped doing that? Why?
Children almost instinctively trust the elder. They have also come to trust the Internet, because that is how they have been conditioned. Here they were deliberately deceived by both.
Who controls what children are taught in the public education system? The Department of Education, down to Teachers Unions, Boards of Eduction, School Administrations, and then Teachers. Parents? Didn't see them figured in the mix. Most of the former figure the Parents are to stupid to provide input, so it's best to just ignore Mom and Dad.
The tree octopus looks almost like it's made out of pine cones or some kind of nut. It would be more creative that way than just whipped up via CGI. -
FTA "Donald Leu, a researcher from the University of Connecticut, conducted a U.S. Department of Education-funded study ..."
I would like to do a study where we dissolve the US Dept of Education for a period of forever to see how positively it affects our culture and saves our treasure.
471 days ago