Target Audience: All citizens participating in the 21st Century Citizenship Program.
Module Duration: 75 minutes
Learning Objectives:
Develop critical thinking skills for evaluating information in the digital landscape.
Understand how media messages are constructed and how they can influence beliefs and behaviors.
Identify bias, misinformation, and disinformation online.
Engage in responsible content creation and sharing.
Become discerning consumers and active citizens in the digital age.
10 minutes
Information Overload: Begins with a showcase of the overwhelming amount of information available online and the challenges of filtering truth from falsehood.
Program Overview: An outline of the learning objectives with an emphasis on the importance of critical thinking and media literacy for navigating the digital world effectively.
20 minutes
Evaluating Information: An introduction to the key questions to ask when evaluating online information:
Source: Who created this information and why?
Evidence: What evidence supports the claims?
Perspective: Is there bias or a particular viewpoint presented?
Context: How does this information fit into the broader context?
Logical Fallacies: General discussion common logical fallacies and persuasive techniques used to manipulate opinions and beliefs.
Fact-Checking Strategies: An exploration of online tools and resources for verifying information and identifying misinformation.
20 minutes
Media Literacy Fundamentals: An explanation of the concept of media literacy and its importance in understanding how media messages are constructed and how they can influence audiences.
Analyzing Media: Introduces techniques for analyzing media messages, including:
Purpose: What is the purpose of this message?
Audience: Who is the intended audience?
Techniques: What persuasive techniques are used (e.g., emotional appeals, use of experts, bandwagon effect)?
Ownership: Who owns and controls the media outlet or platform?
Different Media Formats: Open dialogue about the unique characteristics and potential biases of different media formats (e.g., news articles, social media posts, videos, advertisements).
15 minutes
Types of Misinformation: Approaches to recognizing the difference between misinformation (false information spread unintentionally) and disinformation (false information spread intentionally to deceive).
Identifying Misinformation: An exploration of common red flags and techniques for identifying misinformation, such as sensational headlines, emotional language, and lack of credible sources.
The Impact of Misinformation: Open discussion about the potential consequences of misinformation, including influencing public opinion, eroding trust, and inciting violence.
Combating Misinformation: Encourages responsible online behavior, including fact-checking information before sharing and reporting misleading content.
10 minutes
Critical Consumption: Open discussion to underline the importance of being critical consumers of online information and media.
Ethical Sharing: Promotes responsible content sharing practices, including verifying information before disseminating it and avoiding the spread of harmful or misleading content.
Media Balance: Encourages a healthy balance between online and offline activities and mindful media consumption.
Active Participation: Empower citizens to participate in online discussions, share informed perspectives, and contribute to a more informed and responsible digital society.
Fact-Checking Challenge: Participants presented with a variety of online claims and guided through the process of fact-checking and verifying information.
Media Deconstruction: Analyze news articles, social media posts, or advertisements to identify persuasive techniques and potential biases.
Misinformation Detection: Examples of misinformation and disinformation reviewed to engage participants in identifying red flags and evaluating credibility.
Online Debate: A structured online debate on a current topic to encourage critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and evidence-based arguments.
Critical Thinking and Media Literacy in the Digital Age equips citizens with the critical thinking and media literacy skills necessary to navigate the complex digital landscape. By learning to evaluate information, analyze media messages, and identify misinformation, citizens can become discerning consumers of online content, responsible digital participants, and active contributors to a more informed and engaged society.