In the age of instant information and social media feeds, our children are constantly exposed to vast amounts of content—from genuine news to deliberate disinformation. This has created a critical new trend in education: the need to teach students Information Literacy and Digital Resilience.

At Murray City School District (MCSD), we recognize that simply finding information is no longer enough; students must be able to analyze, evaluate, and verify it. This is the essence of critical thinking. We don’t teach "what to think" and instead focus squarely on teaching "how to think" in a way that helps our students become informed, responsible digital citizens.

Parent Tip: Practice the "Power of the Pause" at Home

You are the most important model for your child's critical thinking habits. You can reinforce these skills every day:

1. Ask the "Five Ws" for Everything: When discussing a news headline, an ad, or a viral TikTok, ask:

   • Who created this, and what is their motive (to inform, persuade, or entertain)?

   • What evidence is used? Is it based on facts or just feelings?

   • Where did you find this? Is the original source a reliable authority?

2. Model Healthy Skepticism: If you see something questionable online, narrate your own critical thinking process: "That sounds surprising! Before I share that, I'm going to do a quick search on a different news site to see if they report the same thing."

3. Encourage Debates (Not Arguments): Pick a low-stakes topic (e.g., "Should we have a family curfew for technology?") and ask your child to argue both the pro and con sides. This practice in seeing multiple perspectives is key to resisting manipulative content.

By working together, we can empower our students to be the thoughtful thinkers and discerning leaders the future needs.