Enhancing Media Literacy Across Europe
In today’s digital age, media literacy and the ability to discern misinformation are more critical than ever. As part of our ongoing commitment to empowering educators with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate this landscape, the “Think Twice” project has been hosting a series of webinars across Europe. These events are designed to provide educators with practical insights and strategies for integrating media literacy into their teaching practices. While webinars have been implemented in several countries, we highlight a few key examples from Portugal, Greece, and France.
Portugal: Cultivating Digital Competence in Education
On April 30th, 2024, Mentortec facilitated a highly engaging webinar in Portugal, focusing on the importance of media literacy in education. This session is just one example of the many similar events conducted across Europe. In Portugal, 12 educators from various primary, secondary, and vocational institutions came together, eager to enhance their digital competence.
Participants engaged in dynamic discussions and brainstorming activities that highlighted their existing knowledge and the local initiatives already in place to promote media literacy. The webinar featured a comprehensive presentation of the “Think Twice” project, including the DigComp 2.2 and DigCompEdu frameworks, which resonated deeply with the attendees. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with educators expressing a strong desire to implement the project’s workshops in their institutions, recognizing the added value it could bring to their educational activities. Moreover, the session emphasized the importance of participating in the upcoming workshop pilots and encouraged educators to spread the word within their networks.
Greece: Addressing Disinformation through Digital Literacy
The Odyssea webinar, held on May 16th, 2024, in Greece, serves as another example of our efforts to equip educators across Europe with the tools to combat disinformation through enhanced digital literacy. Similar to other webinars held in different countries, this session in Greece saw a vibrant turnout of 21 educators, ranging from primary school teachers to adult educators.
The webinar began with interactive brainstorming sessions where participants explored concepts of disinformation and digital literacy, providing a rich foundation for the discussions that followed. Using tools like Mentimeter, the session facilitated a deep dive into how educators can incorporate digital resources in their teaching while ensuring the authenticity of the information they use. The participants showed great enthusiasm, with 79% rating the webinar as both useful and interesting. The webinar also served as a platform to introduce the workshop concepts, with a call to action for educators to take part in the workshop pilots and help disseminate these important initiatives within their professional circles.
France: Exploring the Role of AI in Combating Misinformation
In France, on May 2nd, 2024, Syncnify hosted a webinar that attracted 24 educators eager to explore the intersection of media literacy, misinformation, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). This webinar is part of a broader series conducted in multiple countries, each tailored to the local context.
Participants in France were particularly interested in how AI could be leveraged to enhance educational strategies and the adaptability of the Think Twice methodologies to different student age groups. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with educators appreciating the practical insights provided and expressing a keen interest in further exploring how these strategies could be applied in their own teaching contexts. Additionally, the webinar underscored the importance of participating in the workshop pilots, encouraging educators to actively involve their networks in these pivotal initiatives.
Looking Ahead: Continuing the Mission of “Think Twice”
These webinars, though highlighted here as examples, are part of a much larger initiative spanning multiple countries across Europe. The enthusiastic participation and positive feedback received underscore the importance of this work and its relevance to educators facing the challenges of the digital age.
As we continue to roll out more training sessions and resources, we invite educators across Europe to stay engaged with the “Think Twice” project. We strongly encourage participation in the workshop pilots and urge educators to spread the word within their networks. Together, we can equip the next generation with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate the complex media landscape of the 21st century. Stay tuned for more updates and upcoming events
