Address: Akhaldaba, Rustaveli St.25

Country: Georgia

 School website

Project: “Fake News Fighters-FNF"

 

Working language during the project:

  • Georgian
     

Themes of the Council of Europe project “Free to Speak, Safe to Learn - Democratic Schools for All” covered:

  • Dealing with propaganda, misinformation and fake news
     

Competences from the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (CDC) addressed and where / how they were integrated:

 

  • ResponsibilityStudents will develop their responsibility during different activities, such as making presentations, searching for information, working in groups or in pairs.
  • Self- efficacy
    Students will have tasks to do at home individually to develop self-efficacy.
  • Co-operation skills
    Co-operation skills will be developed during the project.
     

Target group age range:

  • 15 - 19
     

Level of education:

  • Upper secondary education

Short description of the project:

In 21st century, computer skills are very important. As a result of online teaching and learning, the students spend much time in front of the screens and there are many problems which they face online, such as fake news, misinformation and propaganda, for which they don’t have enough experience for protecting themselves. The school, thus, designed the project to target propaganda, misinformation and fake news. More particularly, the project aims to raise students’ awareness of the following issues: What is media literacy and why is it important? How to differentiate fake news from real? In addition, the project aims at raising the motivation of teachers and students, to develop different strategies: responsibility, collaboration, critical and analytical thinking, computer literacy skills.

The project is divided into several parts:

Step 1 – Trainings and workshops - During the trainings students will be given the main information on media literacy, students will learn online tools to differentiate fake news from real. Using interesting and funny games they will get to understand what manipulation or misinformation is, and how to differentiate fake videos and photos. During workshop students will be able to turn received knowledge into practice.

Step 2 - Individual work - making presentations, videos, posters- During these activities, students will make presentations, videos or posters about the topics related to fight against fake news.

Step 3 – Conclusion- video competition, poster competition – At the end of the project, the school will hold a video and poster competition, on topics related to the fight against misinformation.

In addition to the above-mentioned activities, the teacher will implement activities for developing strategies for teaching students effective communication in group work/pair work, critical and analytical thinking, computer literacy skills, collaboration, responsibility, and respect. Finally, the project will serve to foster a democratic culture at school.

The project will be held for one month for 30 upper secondary students. The project will be beneficial not only for students, but also for teachers and for the school as a whole, as it aims to build a positive school culture and democracy.
 

Aims/objectives

To help students develop skills for dealing with fake news.
 

Expected results/outcomes

The students will :

  • understand the purpose of media literacy
  • understand how to deal with fake news, propaganda and misinformation using different websites.
  • develop responsibility, collaboration, critical and analytical thinking, computer literacy skills.
     

Changes

The group of students will be able to share their knowledge with other students.
 

Challenges you faced

Trying to build students’ understanding of how to fight fake news, propaganda and misinformation in today’s climate is very difficult, and a real challenge for us.
 

Time-frame of the project:

Three months

Council of Europe materials on citizenship and human rights education used while preparing or implementing your practice:

  • Multimedia Material (ex. video “Beat Bullying”, series of cartoons “Democracy and Human Rights at School”, video “Corporal punishment at school: how two parents decided to change things”)