Democracy Happy Hour Presents: Media Literacy in the Age of AI
Wednesday October 23, 5-6:30 pm PST
Location: Virtual
Register for session: https://bit.ly/DemocracyHappyHour
How can you ensure you are getting accurate, reliable information? What should you be aware of when it comes to digital media? How do we maximize the benefits while minimizing risks of AI? Join our panel of educators and media literacy experts for a robust discussion on these topics, and more!
Fix Democracy First is a nonpartisan pro-democracy organization. They host a weekly Democracy Happy Hour on Wednesdays to share the latest news on democracy across the country and hear from experts on a variety of democracy related topics.
Maliha Masood
Author, and teacher
Open Window School
Maliha Masood is an award winning writer in creative nonfiction. She is the author of the travel memoirs, Zaatar Days, Henna Nights: Adventures, Dreams and Destinations across the Middle East and Dizzy in Karachi: A Journey to Pakistan.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Maliha immigrated to the United States at the age of eleven and grew up in the Pacific Northwest. She majored in Business and Marketing at UW and worked as a Research Analyst in the tlocal ech sector for a decade. She went to Graduate school for a Master's in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. Maliha has taught courses in Political Science at Edmonds and Bellevue College. She currently tutors high school students in writing and is a debate coach for Middle Schoolers at Open Window School in Issaquah.
Shahan Ali Memon
Doctoral student
Information School, University of Washington
Visiting scholar, New York University Abu Dhabi
Shahan Memon's research investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the ways we acquire validate and comprehend information and knowledge. Recently he has focused on AI's impact on the reliability of search engines and its role in shaping scientific practices. Previously Shahan studied the spread of COVID-19 and vaccination-related misinformation within online social media communities. He also serves on the AI Ethics Advisory Committee at Washington's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
Yun Moh
Curriulum Design Consultant at Renton Technical College
Yun Moh has taught IT and Business in higher education for over twenty years. Lately, he has been working with other faculty members as an instructional designer and curriculum consultant. His focuses on AI have been in two main areas. One, applying AI technology in teaching and learning, such as multimodal materials and AI-aided teaching support. The second focus has been the impact AI has on students’ career paths in their industrial trends, which reshape education as we know it.
Anne Stewart
Digital Learning and Libraries Coordinator
Edmonds School District
Jevin West, Ph.D.
Professor, Associate Dean for Research
Information School, University of Washington
Co-founder, Center for an Informed Public, UW
Jevin West is a Professor and the Associate Dean for Research in the Information School at the University of Washington. He is the co-founder and the inaugural director of the Center for an Informed Public at UW, aimed at resisting strategic misinformation, promoting an informed society and strengthening democratic discourse. His research and teaching focus on the impact of data and technology on science, with a focus on slowing the spread of misinformation in and about science. He is the co-author of the book, “Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World,” which helps non-experts question numbers, data, and statistics without an advanced degree in data science. He has given keynotes around the world and his work featured in The New Yorker, The Economist, Washington Post, NPR, BBC, Nature, Science, and many others.
RTC's Center for Teaching and Learning Presents: Unlocking the Power of Generative AI
Monday October 21, 1-2:30 pm PST
Location: Renton Public Library 100 Mill Avenue S, Renton, WA 98057
Join IT specialists from Renton Technical College for a 90-minute exploration of generative AI. Learn about large language models, the ethics of AI and how these tools are transforming industries.
Discover what AI can and can't do, get an overview of popular tools and find out how they can boost your productivity.
Whether you're curious about AI's potential or looking to integrate it into your workflow, this program provides practical insights and actionable knowledge.
Refreshments provided by Friends of Renton Libraries
Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities is available; please contact the library prior to the event if you require accommodation.
More information
Why is Media Literacy Important?
In today's world, we are inundated with media messaging more than ever before. A 2022 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that average screen time among teens outside of school had more than doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic numbers, now at 7.7 hours a day compared to 3.8 hours a day pre-pandemic. Take a second to reflect on how your use of media has changed in recent years. How are different forms of new media, especially social media, affecting children and adults? Given the rise of online misinformation and fake news, skyrocketing anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia related to social media, and increasing political tensions and divisions, what are the strategies, tools, and habits we need to cultivate in order to thrive in this new media landscape?
This resource guide is meant to provide resources from experts on these important questions. Here you will find information on Media Literacy, Fake News, Resources for Educators, Resources for Parents, and Digital Citizenship.