UW will soon teach students how to call ‘BS’ on claims

The University of Washington will soon teach students how to call out “BS.” The new UW course, titled “Calling Bull****,” is aimed at teaching students critical thinking skills and showing them how to identify when someone is lying to them.

Dave Ross: I found the fraud Donald Trump is looking for!

Assistant Professor Jevin West says the class would also teach students how to respond to false or misleading claims in thoughtful, respectful ways.

West says they have been thinking about adding the class for a few years.

He says students, by and large, need more and more practice these days when it comes to sifting through what is being presented to them.

“You would think we would have those [critical thinking] skills once we reach the status of professor,” but he says,” it’s a skill you have to practice.”

Professor Carl Bergstrom told KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross the class is not a “liberal reaction to Donald Trump,” or criticism of fake news.

“It’s about teaching people how to interpret quantitative claims,” he said. He added that they are trying to make the class accessible to the entire political spectrum.

Students will be able to enroll in the class beginning next quarter.

Listen to the entire conversation.