Reading reflection 1 | W8 Q1 | Discussion

The readings I chose are Mills(2010) and Allcott (2021). Students need to know how to interpret and analyze information in media, think critically about the messages being conveyed, determine whether or not a source is credible, and in the end, act on those judgments. Because, in the digital world, everyone can be the author and participate in different conversations. Mills(2010) talks about the authority figures have “shifted from traditional authority to an epistemology of shared knowledge and expertise”(p.254) and collaboration in the online communities seems to be more common (p. 257). We benefit from this relatively free and equal environment, but we are susceptible to the dangers of misinformation or overwhelmed by the information. “The issue is that information isn’t knowledge”(Allcott, 2021). With the Internet, we are easy to be drowned by the information and keep seeking out more. Skimming, skipping, and multitasking often occur in online learning. Thus, the ability to analyze, think critically and make reliable judgments become valuable in this digital era.