Increasing student awareness of the ways in which algorithms impact individuals in a particular discipline brings increased relevance and new connection points to the subject matter. The impacts of algorithms are being felt in nearly all aspects of society. Being able to recognize the impacts and consequences of algorithms allows individuals the opportunity to ask better questions and make better decisions.
Potential learning objectives of algorithm awareness lessons include (this list is just a beginning):
As a result of participating in this project through class lessons, students will better be able to:
- Identify the effect of algorithms in search results
- Explain how algorithms impact the way decisions are made
- Recognize inherent biases of popular search engines and information sources
- Manipulate settings of popular search engines and social media platforms to increase privacy
- Recognize the risks of online social media activity
- Discuss opportunities associated with opting into various algorithms
- Manipulate browser settings to limit the suggestive nature of online marketing to minimize temptation and distraction
- Identify ways to manage the collection and tracking of online data
- Utilize apps to manipulate the way information is consumed on a smartphone instead of relying on default settings
- Describe the role of bots in social media feeds and the civic implications of such activity
- Teach peers and community members basic algorithm literacy skills
|
|
|
