Conspiratorial Pedagogy: How to Teach about Conspiracy Theories
We live in a golden age of conspiracies. From relatively innocuous conspiracies such as Area 51 or the Denver International Airport to more dangerous conspiracies such as QAnon or vaccines with microchips, conspiracy theories are pervasive in our culture. We have seen conspiracy theories lead to domestic terrorism in the past several years, including the January 6th Insurrection. As instructors who teach critical thinking and critical literacy, it is necessary for us to engage with conspiracy theories—since our students are encountering them on social media, on the internet, and, often, in their homes.