Metaliterate Learning for the Post-Truth World

July 1, 2019

Edited by Mackey (arts & media, State Univ. of New York Empire State Coll.) and Jacobson (information literacy, State Univ. of New York at Albany), this volume (their third on metaliteracy) includes chapters on pedagogical stances, mixed-media formats, and literature- and science-focused metaliteracies. Mackey's framing chapter calls for pedagogical strategies to promote transparent conversation across disciplines and other artificially imposed boundaries and to empower learners to question what they believe and are told through news and social media. The chapter outlines guiding characteristics of metaliteracy (collaborative, participatory, reflective, civic-minded, adaptable, open, productive, informed) and a renewed approach for metaliterate learners with four goals: to evaluate content while also evaluating one's own biases, to engage with all intellectual property ethically and responsibly, to produce and share information in collaborative and participatory environments, and to develop learning strategies to meet lifelong personal and professional goals. Subsequent chapters introduce pedagogical strategies and then align those to the four domains of metaliteracy (behavioral, cognitive, affective, metacognitive) and/or to the four learning goals. Some chapters provide richly detailed suggestions for actively evaluating content documented in multiple media types, but other chapters aren't as successful. VERDICT A solid addition to academic libraries, particularly those with doctoral programs.--Nancy Marksbury, Keuka Coll., Keuka Park, NY

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