ICILS study: One third of students susceptible to fake news
The study examined the computer and information-related competencies of 8th grade students for the second time since 2013. This also included finding out how the digital infrastructure in German schools and the media skills of teachers are doing. In all areas, the study concludes that little has changed compared to the results from 2013; in an international comparison, Germany is only mediocre.
Study director Birgit Eickelmann is alarmed by the fact that 33.2% of young people have only very rudimentary and basic computer and information-related skills. In an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio, Eickelmann said that these students are neither able to classify information they find online correctly nor to critically question it, making them susceptible to fake news.
The digital pact for Germany's schools is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough to invest only in the digital infrastructure. Teachers also need to be qualified and equipped with the right teaching resources.
klicksafe offers illustrative materials for the classroom
klicksafe supports teachers, multipliers, parents and young people in dealing competently and critically with the Internet. The klicksafe teaching material "Fakt oder Fake - Wie man Falschmeldungen im Internet entlarven kann" (Fact or Fake - How to unmask false reportson the Internet) offers background information, methods and materials to introduce young people to the critical evaluation of information on the Internet in an appropriate and age-appropriate way. Further teaching materials for primary and secondary schools can be found in the educators' section at klicksafe.de. Tools & Tips on the topic of fake news can be found on the Fake News topic page.
Further information on the study
- University of Paderborn: ICILS 2018
- BMBF: Eighth graders at a consistent level in digital competencies
- Deutschlandfunk: Digital competence in middle school - One third of students could "only click and swipe"