Statistical literacy in the age of disinformation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52041/iase25.119Abstract
Persuasive speeches aim to influence audiences to adopt specific viewpoints, support causes, or endorse political candidates. In the political arena, media discourse disseminates rhetorical strategies designed to elicit identification, appeal to emotions, and strengthen arguments. This article reports an investigation into how the integration of media, Mathematics, and Statistical Education can foster students’ critical analysis of persuasive narratives in the classroom. The study was conducted with seven high school students (aged 17–18) from a public school in Brazil, using participant observation. Data were generated through media news reports and information from the MapBiomas platform addressing deforestation in Brazil, and analyzed based on students’ written records and audio recordings. The findings indicate that engaging with news and statistical data promotes critical awareness of deforestation, environmental issues, and social inequality, highlighting the potential of Mathematics and Statistics for educating reflective and critically informed citizens.References
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