**Title:** Critical Thinking and Analysis in Social Media and Education
**Attendance:**
– Absent: Not explicitly mentioned
**Topics Covered:**
*Introduction to Critical Thinking and Argument Analysis*
– Continued discussion on argument analysis
– Introduction to critical thinking and textual analysis
– Exercise on identifying and analyzing opinions on social media that students disagreed with
*Understanding Social Media Influence*
– Discussion on emotional reactions triggered by social media
– The concept and impact of false information and “made up news” on social media and the internet
– The importance of critical thinking when consuming online content
– Understanding the concept of credibility and the need to discern between credible and non-credible sources
*The Role of Critical Thinking in Consumer Decisions*
– Practical example of critical thinking was given through the scenario of deciding to purchase a new product, specifically Dyson hair clips
– The topic of product reviews was also discussed
– Understanding the motivations behind published information or reviews, such as promotional content
*Advertising and Motives in Written Information*
– The concept of advertising and affiliate marketing
– Analyzing motives behind written information
– Reading and discussing an argument
*School Uniforms and Equality*
– The concept of mandatory school uniforms
– The argument for and against school uniforms
– Understanding of claims, evidence, and reasoning in an argument
– The concept of equality and inequality
– The concept of division
*Understanding the Author’s Perspective*
– Introduction to the author of the discussed opinion piece, Sarah Jones, an educational consultant and former middle school principal
– Exploration of why Sarah Jones might have written the piece
– Understanding the importance of knowing the author’s background when interpreting their arguments
**Actionable Items:**
*Improving Class Engagement*
– Encourage students to turn on their cameras during class for better engagement
– Addressing the issue of students not having webcams or not being able to use them during class
*Developing Critical Thinking Skills*
– Follow up on the exercise about disagreeing with opinions on social media
– Encourage students to share more examples of false information they have encountered online
– Further discuss the concept of credibility and how to determine it when consuming information
– Develop exercises for students to practice their critical thinking skills, such as evaluating the credibility of different online sources
– Continue to develop critical reading skills
*Understanding Concepts and Discussions*
– Address the confusion on the concept of a product review
– Expand the discussion about understanding the motivations behind published content
– Further discussion on the topic of school uniforms
– Better understanding and examples of equality and inequality
– Further explanation of division in a non-mathematical context
– Discussion on the implications of children judging each other based on appearance
*Understanding Different Perspectives*
– Further exploration of Sarah Jones’ perspective and motivations behind her opinion on school uniforms
– More in-depth discussion on the role and daily experiences of middle school principals and how it might shape their views on school-related issues
– Consideration of student-teacher relationships and their impact on school environment
**Homework:**
– The teacher will send a short article for students to analyze
– Students need to identify the author’s claim, the evidence provided, and the reasoning
– Students should also consider who wrote the article, why they wrote it, and what they want from the readers.