PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC BELIEFS, MEDIA LITERACY, AND NEED FOR TEACHER EDUCATION

In the present information-rich world, media resources are increasingly responsible for promoting pseudoscientific beliefs, because the misinformation is proliferating readily due to the use of these resources. These media resources disseminate myths and unscientific knowledge in the absence of the ability to differentiate between unscientific knowledge, specifically in the academic space where teachers and students are directly influenced by media resources. It is essential for teachers to critically examine the media content and differentiate between scientifically valid information and misconceptions. Media literacy is the only way to combat these issues in educational practices. A previous study revealed a lower ability among teachers to discern fact from fiction. They emphasised the role of media literacy in addressing pseudoscientific beliefs among teachers. Therefore, a correlational survey was employed using a five-point Likert scale to determine the level and relationship between media literacy and pseudoscientific beliefs among school teachers in Indian schools.