Sharing skills, tools, and resources for librarians and faculty to combat misinformation in the face of constantly changing technology 

As AI becomes smarter and more deeply embedded in how we access information and algorithms increasingly dictate what information we consume, how can we train students to spot and respond to misinformation? And what ethical considerations do we need to think through along the way?  

SAGE Publishing’s Third Annual Critical Thinking Bootcamp offered insights, guidance, and resources to help librarians, professors, and other staff encourage critical thinking in and out of the classroom. In the three sessions panelists shared ways to recognize and address the impact of tech trends on our media ecosystem and tactics that can be used to educate students. 

Experienced librarians and social and behavioral scientists spoke on:  

• “The Rise of AI: Challenges and Opportunities” with Alexis Bonnell, Dr. Mata Haggis-Burridge, Sarah Morris, and Dan Chibnall

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to impact nearly every industry in the coming decades and significantly reshape the workforce and the classroom. Students will need training with a broader, interdisciplinary outlook to understand the impact of AI and think critically about its societal implications. In this session, the panelists will discuss how to build curricula that draw from areas as diverse as computer science, psychology, and information studies and the myriad ways AI will affect higher education.

• “Technology & Ethics: Practicing & Teaching Technoethics” with Rosalind Tedford, Dr. Brooklyne Gipson, and Sarah Morris

  As academic professionals, what is our role in addressing the ethical concerns that arise with technology? While the subject of ethics is often discussed in relation to technology, how can we place it within both our pedagogical practice and policy? The panel will evaluate existing policies for tackling ethical issues in tech and offer suggestions for the future.

• “Why Algorithms Matter: Algorithm Literacy for Search, Research, & Bias Awareness” with Renée DiResta, Dan Chibnall, and Rosalind Tedford

  Whether through search, research, or the messages and media we consume daily, we receive information via algorithms built and designed by humans with preexisting biases. However, by nature algorithms are invisible, making our ability to critically interact with them difficult. This session will help increase your algorithmic literacy and the role you can play in mitigating algorithmic bias across campus.

Ample time for discussion, Q&A, and networking was also provided and attendees were given practical tips to apply, questions to consider, and a comprehensive toolkit of resources to utilize. The recording, slides, and toolkit will be distributed to all registrants. 

Speakers: