An important distinction that we often bring up in class is that between inert information, activated ignorance, and activated knowledge. And one observation we have is that a lot of us have opinions–sometimes very passionately held ones–about important issues without checking to see whether or how well they are founded on evidence. So, as part of their final project, the students are asked to do some independent research to find out whether their current views about what they take to be a consequential issue belong in the category of activated knowledge, activated ignorance, or inert information. On that basis, they’ll have to decide whether or how they need to update their views.
There following are two examples on immigration. The first piece also contains the author’s follow-up attempt to help others to think critically about this issue, with a smart use of graph and a thoughtful reflection on the limitations of critical thinking (punch line: it needs to be paired with ethical considerations). The second piece contains more data and graphs, although not all seem to be smoothly integrated into the narrative.
Max_Immigration knowledge-about-immigration-2-1