We have now given a lot of principles and approaches, but no doubt you are yearning for concrete examples. Below, you will find a list of current good practices from accross Europe.

Practice scenarios for secondary education

Hate Out! Game: can hate speech online be considered normal? - Italy

Target group: secondary education

"Hate-out!" is an online role-playing serious game designed to teach players about hate speech online. Players take on the roles of community members who face various instances of online hate speech, experiencing real-life scenarios.

By engaging with these situations, players learn to critically assess their reactions to hate speech and understand its impact on their community. The game aims to increase critical thinking and digital literacy among young people. Students can play this game individually.

It is available in English and seven European countries and their respective languages: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Greece and Romania.

Play the game on this platform.

Interpreting AI generated content - Finland

Target group: secondary education

The teacher collected various political advertisements from over a couple of decades. The advertisements were analysed by an Artificial Intelligence. Students then needed to match the right advertisement with the right analysis. They also had to check which images are AI generated. More explanation can be found in this video.

Create your own conspiracy - Belgium

Target group: secondary education

At the end of a series of lessons on conspiracy theories and propaganda, students of Flemish teacher Sara De Jaeghere, will work in groups to create their own conspiracy theory. They use the learned key aspects on a conspiracy theory to make their own. 

How?

They start at a major event or injustice in society, whatever interests or concerns them. Then they start looking at potential target groups for their conspiracy? This conspiracy then may be be linked to broader context, such as the government. Thus, a conspiracy theory is built step by step. 

Students will then go on to create a campaign using digital tools to convince their classmates of their conspiracy theory. They create fake content, so they have to be mindful of making it clear to people outside the school context that it is fake news. They do this by using hashtags. 

Workshop in a Box - Ireland

Target group: secondary education

The workshop in a box provides teachers, librarians, community leaders and other educators with the resources needed to deliver a Be Media Smart workshop where participants can learn about engaging with digital media content, as well as the issue of disinformation and its impact on the society.

The workshop covers the following topics:

1. Information disorder
2. Digital Media consumption
3. Media representation and manipulation
4. The work of algorithms and how they influence our online experience
5. Confirmation bias
6. Best practices to access and evaluate media content and information, especially online
7. Critical thinking

The tool consists of theoretical input, slides, videos and hand-outs. Check out more information.

The hand of mental health and media - Finland

Target group: secondary education

Students learn about digital wellbeing through an infographic.In this classroom activity, students use an infographic to reflect on their media behavior from a mental well-being perspective over the past week. They analyze their habits, share findings in a group discussion, and identify key areas for improvement. Through this process, students develop strategies to foster a healthier relationship with media and enhance their overall well-being.

The activity consists of:

• What is digital wellbeing?
• Brain health and media
• Mental health and media
• Usage of media & self care
• Commenting and discussing the topic from pupils’ point of view

More information on mediakasvatus.fi or download the infographic below.