Workshop aims to help pre-teens investigate health misinformation online
A group of health researchers are developing a workshop to help kids become health detectives who can navigate misinformation online.
The workshop, created by a team at the University of British Columbia Okanagan’s Southern Medical Program, comes as kids wade through the tricky waters of COVID-19 conspiracies and falsehoods on social media.
“Misinformation is so endemic these days,” said Rowan Laird, in a news release.
Laird, a student of the medical program, is creating the workshop for students aged 10 to 12 as part of his UBCO course requirements.
“Our goal is to teach students how to navigate health information online, spot misinformation and think critically about health claims," Laird said.
Dr. Evelyn Cornelissen, a clinical associate professor with the program says that as the global pandemic emerged last spring she became increasingly concerned with how health misinformation was impacting children.
“Internet connectivity and social media have fuelled the spread of health misinformation, while rotating lockdowns have increased uncertainty and reluctance to follow public health guidelines,” she said.
Laird partnered with Jimmy Lopez, a graduate research assistant with BC Children's Hospital’s Vaccine Evaluation Center, to create a virtual workshop to help kids evaluate and identify reputable sources of health information.
The workshop, titled "So You Want to be a Health Detective," was first presented to Grade 5 and 6 class in Kelowna. The session presented tips about evaluating information sources and encouraged students to think critically about the “5 Ws” – who, what, when, where, and why – as a method of spotting websites that lack current scientific data or might have ulterior motives.
Students were asked to compare web pages from the BC Centre for Disease Control and a prominent anti-vaccination organization.
“Within five minutes of studying each webpage, they were able to quickly identify the trustworthy source,” Laird said.
“I was really impressed how quickly they applied their critical thinking skills to assess the credibility of the information.”
Students were also given a pop quiz before and after the seminar so the team could get a sense of their attitudes towards misinformation, trustworthy sources and their confidence in assessing online information.
Feedback from the students showed they often turn to Google to get answers to questions they are initially embarrassed to ask a parent or a teacher.
“The internet is seen as a trial run before discussing with someone they trust,” reads the news statement.
The team is now planning on presenting the workshop to other classes in the fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.