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Information GlutSo Much Information - So Little MindWe are in the Information Age. Information is at our finger tips 24-hours every day of the week. From newspapers, libraries, Collages, and individuals, the Internet allows us to browse all of these items in the comfort of our own homes. We can read about almost any topic whenever we get the urge. Information has become so plentiful that we have very little time to process what we learn. Information has no value unless it helps us improve our lives, improve our decisions, and increase our understanding. For information to be useful, we must know how to handle the flow of information, how to control the deluge, and how to prevent information overload. In order to make the best use of information, we must learn how to think, not just how to memorize. We must acquire a foundation from which to absorb new information without being swept along in its flow. To prevent our opinions from changing with each new idea, each new opinion, we need to cherish some opinions more than others; we need to refuse to accept new opinions without first analyzing those opinions. Just because an authority figure tells us something is true doesn’t mean we should accept that something without augment or thought. Facts can be interpreted differently depending on one’s bias. Because something is a fact doesn’t mean that all conclusions derived from that fact are true. One fact can alter another fact so any opinion based on fact may well depend on the selected fact. A true fact doesn’t always create an accurate, truthful statement. As the Internet continues to explode, there are more experts available (and some not so expert) to prove or disprove any idea or opinion. Experts disagree on everything from evolution to politics. You can easily find one or more supposedly expert that will support your pre-held opinion or bias. Schools are not much help in teaching the art of filtering and sorting this information glut. Most teachers have a point of view and they see nothing wrong in promoting that view as factual and truthful. Opposing views are often mocked and even graded on a bias curve. Teacher’s preferences and prejudices affect their ability to teach critical thinking. Critical thinking helps one see through the biases and prejudices of others as well as our own. Critical thinking is not accepting all information without thought but it is the analyzing of that information to discover the best truth it has to offer. For many teachers, critical thinking is parroting what they have been taught and the expectation their students will do the same. For these type of teachers, critical thinking is agreeing with their biases and they do not allow any disagreement with their truth. A true teacher is one that can accept agreement and disagreement with the same temperament and without degrading individual thought. A lot of information does not necessarily mean better decisions or better opinions. As in the case with too many options, decision making can become extremely difficult instead of easier. It is easier to accept information that supports our opinion of the facts than it is to keep an open mind and allow the information to lead us to an unbiased conclusion. We all have biases, controlling those biases rather than giving in to them requires willpower and the exercise of critical thinking. The secret to finding trusted sources of information is to find people that present a balance of pro and con arguments; people that provide data from multiple sources for their conclusions; people that are more interested in presenting accurate information than in promoting an agenda. Facts are easy to find; truth is harder to discern. Author: Don Miller
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