Archive for the ‘Raising Critical Thinkers’ Category

Podcast: Critically Thinking about the News with Mosheh Oinounou Pt. 1

Brave Writer Podcast

We’ve been discussing the importance of critical thinking lately, and today’s guest on the Brave Writer podcast is a perfect example of why it’s so important—and also incredibly difficult.

I’m speaking with Mosheh Oinounou, a journalist who has risen to fame on Instagram for his neutral:

  • approach to the news,
  • digging into headlines,
  • and discussing social issues.

On top of that, he is a fabulous conversationalist, which shines through in this interview. He focuses on verified headlines and is interested in facts above all else.

Show Notes

The confirmation bias trap

Mosheh’s news-neutral platform welcomes a variety of opinions and is a place for people to learn from each other and recognize where we each come from. We have historic levels of access to information, but it’s through filtering all of that information that we see biases come up. And yes, the truth is that everyone has biases. There are so many elements of your upbringing that shape who you are and how you see the world. Because of this, nobody is truly unbiased. Simply being an American shapes your worldview in a way that is remarkably different from people in other countries.

To Mosheh, what makes something newsworthy is determined by relevancy, interest, and whether or not it impacts people’s lives. It’s through that lens that he filters information and tries to present things in a neutral manner.

How we are reclaiming diversity of opinion through social media

Social media was not designed as a tool for news delivery—and yet it’s the primary way most of us are informed, whether we like it or not. “The algorithm” you may have heard so much about just means that the goal of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the like is to keep you on the platform as long as possible—which inherently skews the kinds of news that gets shared and seen by more people to be more inflammatory and sensationalist. They know you will spend more time on that platform if you are mad than if you were happy.

Investigating our biases

We all live busy lives, which can make it hard to vet and verify sources on our own. But in a world where mainstream media is losing trust, why are so many people quick to trust a random website they’ve never heard of before? It may come down to confirmation bias: the innate desire to find—and believe—information that confirms and lines up with our current worldview. So how do we combat that?

One metric is to be aware of when a news article makes you happy. If you feel a slight sense of smugness when reading that headline, that’s a sign you may be experiencing confirmation bias and it’s time to double-check and verify your sources.

If you’re looking for tools and support in raising kids in a media-saturated environment, consider reading Raising Critical Thinkers. It is designed to raise kids who are mindful and know how to vet their own sources and think for themselves. In the world we live in today, I can hardly think of anything more important than that.

Listen to Part Two.

Resources

Connect with Julie

Brave Writer Podcast

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What Do I Hope Will Be True?

Brave Writer

Want to clarify your bias? Ask: what do I hope will be true?

It’s easy to identify bias in everyone else: that news show anchor, the brash radio host, your annoying neighbor, the uncle who won’t shut up at the holiday dinner…

Bias lives in all of us, however—even those of us who pride ourselves on being “objective.” What’s harder to detect is the invisible, silent influence bias has on how we think. The method for detecting bias isn’t more studying (you can always find books and articles to confirm your biases). Rather, bias is merely how your mind sorts information to affirm what you hope will be true.

An Example

When you read about homeschooling, don’t you begin hoping that whatever you read will validate that homeschooling is a trustworthy method of education? That “hope” is where your mind starts when it goes to read the article. If you read an article that’s against homeschooling, don’t you find yourself wanting to discredit what you read? You want homeschooling to be seen as effective so you hope that this negative article isn’t accurate or true.

Try this.

  • Go to any news site.
  • Pick an article to read.
  • Read the headline.
  • Now before you start reading, ask yourself, “What do I hope will be true?”

You aren’t asking what IS true. You aren’t asking if the writers are biased. You aren’t even trying to see if you agree or disagree with the writer.

Your task is to detect the little internal voice that is already telling you whether or not to trust this article, and what you hope to find (you may even hope to find that the writer is a loudmouth or that the information is wrong or that the research is flawed). If it’s a headline you like, you may hope to find more data to confirm what you want to be true!

Bias is the unconscious posture you take toward any information. It’s not possible to eliminate it. The best we can do is notice it—bring it to the surface so it can ride sidecar while you read an article, tweet or Instagram caption. It’s also helpful to notice your bias when in conversation.

Ask: what do I hope she’ll say? What do I wish he wouldn’t say?

The crux of bias is: What do I hope will be true?

This post is originally from Instagram and @juliebogartwriter is my account there so come follow along for more conversations like this one!

Raising Critical Thinkers

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Raising Critical Thinkers Book Club Kit

Raising Critical Thinkers Book Club Kit

I visited my first Raising Critical Thinkers book club! The energy was electric and the insights were meaningful and profound.

I’m blown away by the number of you who are hosting and participating in book clubs!

Check out the book club guide created just for you for free for that purpose.

Our Brave Writer elves have been hard at work creating a Book Club Party Kit just for grownups!

We know how much you like partying with your kids after they read books with you. It seemed fitting that the adults in the room get to enjoy reading and celebrating too!

Turn your book conversation into a party!

Each book club kit includes:

  • 4 “I Am Raising Critical Thinkers” Mugs
  • 4 Flag Banners of two types
  • 4 Posters of two types
  • 12 Pencils with RCT quotes on them
  • 4 Wooden Bookmarks of two types
  • 4 Kaleidoscopes of two types

Your kit will be shipped to your door in a sturdy cardboard box with a message from me on the inside lid.

If you’ve got more than four members, purchase additional kits.

Quantities limited (fewer than 23 kits available). Hurry, while we still have them.

Offer good only in US. Shipping additional.

Only $99.00 (retail: $159.00). If you’ve got four friends, that’s just 25 bucks a piece!

Happy thinking!

Book Club Party Kit

When you use your book club kit, be sure to tag me on social media!

Twitter/Facebook: @bravewriter

Instagram: @juliebogartwriter

Raising Critical Thinkers

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Raising Critical Thinkers: Julie ON-AIR

Raising Critical Thinkers Interviews

Raising Critical Thinkers is circling the globe via podcast and news article! If you’re interested in hearing a wide array of thoughts that I’ve shared about the contents of my new book, check out some of these delightful interviews.

Tune In

Also, thrilled to have Raising Critical Thinkers recommended by Adam Grant: The 12 New Idea Books to Brighten Your Winter.

Thank you to each interviewer and every listener for supporting Raising Critical Thinkers.

You’ve made the launch of my book an amazing experience!

Raising Critical Thinkers

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How to Talk to Kids about Being Critical Thinkers with Dr. Robyn Silverman

Raising Critical Thinkers

I was thrilled to discuss my book, Raising Critical Thinkers, with Dr. Robyn Silverman.

On her podcast, How to Talk to Kids about Anything, we focus on how to talk to kids about being critical thinkers who ask “who says?” when:

  • taking in new information,
  • doing their own research,
  • and asking questions from different perspectives.

We also discuss how to spark curiosity and challenge the norms so that our kids don’t just take in what they see and hear as fact—but rather, as opinions or facts filtered through a specific lens.

Listen to the Podcast

Raising Critical Thinkers

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