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In their lively and entertaining weekly discussion of issues related to higher education, KUT’s Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burger explore the topics of higher education, lifelong learning, and exercising the brain. Ed and Jennifer practice what they preach, too, by introducing math puzzlers and brain teasers to keep listeners on their toes.

Higher Ed: 'Fake News' and Formal Education

A bill has been introduced in the California state Legislature that would add elements to school curricula to teach students to "judge the credibility and quality of information found on Internet Web sites, including social media." We think we know fake news when we see it, right? Well, maybe not always.

In this episode of KUT's podcast Higher Ed, KUT's Jennifer Stayton and Southwestern University President Dr. Ed Burgeranswer a listener's question about the role of formal education in teaching about "fake news."

A listener wonders whether it's the job of schools to teach students how to better discern what they read online. If it is, how do schools and teachers go about doing that? Ed and Jennifer discuss what "fake news" is; why it's out there; and how students of any age can develop some sense and savvy about what they read online. Click here for their discussion and to get the solution to last episode's puzzler about apples and algebra.

This episode was recorded on Feb. 16, 2017.

For all of the Higher Ed episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here!

Jennifer Stayton is the local host for NPR's "Morning Edition" on KUT. Got a tip? Email her at jstayton@kut.org. Follow her on X @jenstayton.