Cultivating critical thinking in an algorithmic world
In the online world, algorithms are having an increasingly pervasive and persuasive influence on our daily decision-making, ranging from the music we listen to, to which political party we are going to vote for. The recent influx of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT has further expanded the reach and impact of algorithms in our lives.
How algorithms are fuelling online misinformation
These algorithms bring with them many conveniences and personalised services; however they are also presenting significant challenges. They can create echo chambers, amplify misinformation, and even fuel extremism. The United Nations has recognised this as a global issue, launching the ‘Global Principles for Information Integrity’ initiative this year, pressing technology companies and governments around the world to implement protocols to address the problem.
The algorithms found within social media platforms are of particular concern, as they tend to have a compounding effect on one’s exposure to misinformation. Referred to as recommender systems, they are fuelled by vast amounts of user data, and create personalised content feeds that can reinforce existing beliefs and biases. This leads to the formation of echo chambers, where alternative perspectives are limited, and critical thinking becomes difficult.
These algorithms are designed to be as engaging as possible, because the longer you are online, the more money that can be made through advertising and data collection. Besides personalising content, the other strategy that achieves this is through the promotion of controversial or emotionally charged content. This feeds into our negativity bias, and tends to ‘hook’ us in.
This has far-reaching impacts on our society. For example, it affects voter behaviour during elections, can cause people to adopt more extreme views, and can lead to social fragmentation on a wide range of issues, making it difficult to work together to solve important problems, such as climate change and pandemics.
The role of education
Technology companies are unlikely to address this issue effectively due because they are worried about their profit margins, and governments are having a hard time bringing in any kind of useful regulation.
So how can we address this issue at the school level in order to ensure that our students become discerning digital citizens, capable of identifying misinformation, and able to make informed decisions without undue or harmful influence? The answer lies in algorithmic literacy. By equipping our students with the knowledge and skills to understand how algorithms operate their influence on us, we can help them to be informed, critical and ethical shapers of our digital future.
Whist algorithmic literacy is not an explicit part of the Australian curriculum, it is implied in many areas, most significantly within the Digital Literacy general capability. This means that all teachers, regardless of year level or subject area, have the opportunity and the responsibility to integrate algorithmic literacy into their teaching.
Challenges and opportunities
Algorithmic literacy is a crucial element of informed citizenship and a safeguard for our democratic processes. The task before us is significant, but does not come without its challenges. My session at the National Education Summit in Brisbane will be expanding further on this and opening up a collaborative discussion on how we can better teach this skill.
My PhD studies are seeking to understand the current capabilities of Australian teachers when it comes to teaching this critical skill. This research will be important in identifying the necessary action that need to be taken in order to ensure that teachers feel more capable and supported in this area.
If you would like to participate in this research, please feel free to complete this short online questionnaire. It will help to provide crucial insights that will bring benefits to teachers and their students.
https://curtin.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6xJGQJiQjdDoIEC
https://projectinfolit.org/publications/algorithm-study/
Register for the AI in the Classroom Brisbane Conference here: www.nationaleducationsummit.com.au/brisbane/ai-in-the-classroom
