Peer Review

Confronting Health Misinformation

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Sep 21, 2021 by ICT Literacy

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

A report from the Surgeon General released as an effort to help slow the spread of health misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 virus and pandemic. This report offers recommendations with actions that can be taken by individuals, families, communities, health care workers, teachers, media, those in technology, the government and so many more. Each page of the report addresses a different group with direct recommendations.

Type of Material:

Reference Material

Recommended Uses:

Instructors can assign the background information as homework. Because the report discusses what different stakeholders can do to address health information, instructors can assign small groups to focus on one stakeholder as homework, and then jigsaw recommendations in class. Teachers could also ask students to implement one recommendation as an assignment.

Technical Requirements:

PDF file works on Windows browsers

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Users will engage with actional information about the COVID-19 Pandemic

Users will find direct recommendations to their needs to address misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Target Student Population:

College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional, healthcare majors

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Basic ICT literacy skills, including some knowledge about misinformation

Understanding of COVID-19 pandemic

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This report was developed by the Surgeon General (and well researched), and leverages current information about COVID-19. It summarizes the issue of health misinformation and its consequence, and provides detailed recommendations that are stakeholder-specific. Accurate information that directly addresses a wide variety of groups individually page by page. The material is very relevant across disciplines and can be used in several ways. Materials are appropriately attributed, including URLs, but no "live" links exist.
Concerns:: There is a definite reading level to this text. The concern is that those who fall prone to misinformation will gain nothing from this document.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The learning goals are clear and detailed, and reflect important ICT literacy standards. This resource builds on knowledge of the pandemic and the continuous issues of misinformation. The report provides basic background, details recommendations for action targeted to specific stakeholders as well as overall next steps. Users who want more information can explore over sixty references. Coverage is efficient. Instructors can incorporate this report in several disciplines, and can be assured that the report has application in professional and daily life.
Concerns:: There is a certain audience this has been created for (high school, professional, college); this information is important to all.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The report is well written and organized, and is easy to navigate with low technology since it is a pdf file. It is a strong call to action. No help feature is needed, and the report is ADA-compliant.
Concerns:: This government report is all text, and is not eye catching. There is little to draw a reading audience.

Other Issues and Comments:: It is a report from the Surgeon General it meets the needs it set out to meet.
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