Using Popular Media as a Learning Resource to Promote Independent Learning

Students on a Human Biology course study a module on nutrition. Nutrition related articles are ubiquitous in the popular media. On our course students participate in a workshop investigating how nutriton articles are presented in the nedia, and consider the potential harms that can arise from misrepresentation of scientific data. Students are then given two weeks to select an article of their choosing from a magazine or website and investigate the scientific claims behind it, using literature searching skills covered in a session delivered by library staff. Students present their findings to the class during a subsequent discussion session. This format allows students to selct a topical article of interest to them, and develps their critical thinking a liteeature searching skills. This format can also be used in other topic areas related to science presentation in the media