Challenging Misinformation: Developing students’ critical thinking skills through innovative teaching practice (in-person event at Sheffield Hallam University)
Click here to book your place at the event
**Please note: the joining instructions for the event will come via the hosts at SHU and will not always be available online. Please look out for the email/calendar appointment from SHU staff**
About this event
Date: Wednesday 19th June 2024
Time: 10.00 – 4.00pm
Format: In-person at Charles Street Building, Sheffield Hallam University (room TBC)
An opportunity for academic library & study skills professionals to come together and share experiences & ideas on combatting misinformation through encouraging critical thinking.
We are delighted to invite you to the 4th Sheffield Hallam University Library and Skills Centre Teachmeet. This free regional event will involve the sharing of ideas, experience, and innovative teaching practice through presentations, activities and discussions. The Teachmeet is aimed at higher education library staff and academic study skills practitioners working in the North and in the East Midlands.
Booking
The Teachmeet is now available to book using the link above. We request that no more than three attendees/presenter-participants from the same institution book onto this event, since the purpose of the event is to enable sharing of teaching practice between different institutions. Recordings of presentations and materials from the activities will be shared after the event.
Theme
Our theme this year is Challenging Misinformation: Developing students’ critical thinking skills through innovative teaching practice. Misinformation and disinformation are widespread online and across the media - impacting key issues from sustainability and the climate crisis to decolonisation and social justice. This information landscape is further complicated by the growing prominence of artificial intelligence. Supporting the development of critical thinking skills to recognise and challenge misinformation is an important role for staff in higher education, and perhaps especially for library and academic skills staff. What can we do as educators to equip our students with the critical thinking skills they need for their studies and beyond?
More information about the event, including information about presenter-participants, can be found on the SHU Teachmeet online guide. This guide will be added to and updated over time, including to share materials after the event.
Contributors
Developing a Media and Misinformation self-study course - Julie Burrell, Rachel Donlon, and Sarah Webb (Academic Liaison Librarians) Manchester Metropolitan University
This presentation will explore on the development of an online Media and Misinformation self-study course, covering the following areas: how librarians at MMU previously approached the topic of misinformation; the motivations behind choosing to adapt this approach; the aims, format, and content of the course itself; current engagement with the course; and plans for future developments.
Co-producing an introductory critical thinking learning pathway for undergraduate students - Chloe Bolsover (Learning and Teaching Librarian) and Jayne Evans (Skills Manager) Sheffield Hallam University
Student Partner research at Sheffield Hallam University Library reported low confidence in understanding critical thinking, particularly amongst undergraduate students in STEM and health-related courses. Library staff and students have worked together to develop and curate a learning pathway through existing and newly developed resources using the LinkedIn Learning Pathway tool. On completion of the pathway students will receive certification to upload to their professional LinkedIn account. This presentation will demonstrate the draft pathway alongside showcasing staff & student collaboration.
Re-developing Informed Researcher training for postgraduate research students to address the impact of social media, knowledge influencers and AI research tools - Laura Williams (Subject Librarian) University of Huddersfield
At the University of Huddersfield, we are exploring ideas about how to address the potential impact of PhD influencers and content creators. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and X are increasingly being used to share advice about PhD research. PhD students and early career researchers taking on a knowledge influencer role on social media platforms, sharing advice about literature searching, reference management and AI tools. This presentation will discuss ways to introduce critical reflection on information in for PGRs in a world where social media makes it easy to access community knowledge. How can teaching ensure research students are able to think critically about information in a rapidly changing landscape of tools? This presentation will cover how our traditional library content can still be delivered whilst addressing the need to encourage reflection and debate about new emerging technologies and raises awareness of influencer culture on academia.
Evidence-based debates to enhance students’ critical thinking - Michelle Schneider (Library Learning Advisor) University of Leeds
Library staff at Leeds have been working with students to develop and participate in evidence-based debates to enhance their critical thinking skills. This presentation will share the experience of trialling this approach in the School of Education and through an open workshop programme. This approach aims to help students consider different perspectives, recognise how the same evidence can be used to develop different perspectives, and understand the importance of counter arguments.
Critical Use of Generative AI - Oli Johnson and Matthew Martin (Academic Skills Advisers) University of Sheffield
The rapid development of Generative AI (Gen AI) tools has raised the stakes for critical thinking as an academic skill. With unlimited access to potentially valuable but generic and sometimes dubious information, it is more important than ever before for students to be able to evaluate, organise and communicate that information using an authentic academic voice. This session will focus on the positive potential of Gen AI as a tool to develop critical thinking skils. How can students be supported to use Gen AI thoughtfully and ethically within their academic work? How can Gen AI be used to open up new perspectives, to challenge established thinking and to act as a critical friend? The session will introduce a range of examples to open up discussion of its applications.
Current schedule for the day
This is subject to change with any updates communicated in good time. There will be three breaks including lunch and time for networking. Please note that while lunch will not be provided but there is a range of good value food available from campus outlets. Supermarkets and cafés outside of the university are within a comfortable walking distance.
- 9.30am – Arrival
- 10am - Welcome
- 10.30am – First two presentations (10 minute presentations with 10 minutes for questions and changeover)
- 11.10am – Break
- 11.30am – Final three presentations
- 12.30pm – Lunch and networking
- 1.30pm – First activity
- 2.20pm – Break
- 2.40pm – Second activity
- 3.30pm – Plenary
Getting to the University
The event will take place in the Charles Street building. To walk from Sheffield train station, it will take around 10 minutes. Parking is not available on campus. There is all-day parking available, further details are available on the Sheffield Hallam where to park guide. If you need further information, please get in touch.