In a changing digital world, the figure of the teacher is essential for the students.
There are various tools that young minds need to become critical thinkers, like digital literacy, classroom activities, media literacy education and educational initiatives.
In this way, the teacher’s challenge is to help students to ask critical questions, improve social skills, create digital content safely, communicate and collaborate.
The goals of teaching are:
- information management
- teamwork to evaluate informations
- the importance of dialogue and personal effort
- promotion of digital integrity
Young people are particularly vulnerable to disinformation and fake news, because they spend their time on smartphones, playing online, posting photos and videos and chatting. Through these technologies they can access lots of information, so schools have to provide students with all the skills that they need to understand the world, communication and how to use the digital information.
Schools and teachers must collaborate to guide students to use information autonomously and responsibly.
References:
Guidelines for teachers and educators on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training (2022, 11 October) https://education.ec.europa.eu/news/guidelines-for-teachers-and-educators-on-tackling-disinformation-and-promoting-digital-literacy-through-education-and-training
Dealing with propaganda, misinformation and fake news https://www.coe.int/en/web/campaign-free-to-speak-safe-to-learn/dealing-with-propaganda-misinformation-and-fake-news
Author: Fabiola Forgione (JUMP staff)