Media and Information Literacy skills of adults to develop critical thinking and combat fake news

Media literacy is a wide concept that, according to the definition elaborated by the EU Media Literacy

Expert Group (MLEG), includes all technical, cognitive, social, civic and creative capacities that allow a

citizen to access, have a critical understanding of the media and interact with it”. Media and information

literacy actions responding to this definition are quite widespread across Europe and there are various

studies available on national policies across Europe. What has been missing so far is a systematic

mapping of media literacy practices, skills, educational methodologies and actions across the EU.

On the other hand, media and information literacy is the key tool in the fight against disinformation.

During the period of the global spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), beyond its impact on public health

and the economy, the coronavirus pandemic has been accompanied by a dangerous wave of

disinformation, putting the world's health at risk, hampering efforts to contain the pandemic, and fueling

criminal behavior. EU steps up efforts to tackle this 'disinformation epidemic' while ensuring freedom of

expression is protected.

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In general, there are many definitions about media and information literacy and include different

terminologies. Regardless of the terminology we use—digital media literacy, information literacy, internet

literacy, or any of the other terms—the key point is that literacy includes the capacity to interact

intelligently with media and information sources. However, it is important to mention the absence of an

accepted definition of media literacy resulting in differences in how media literacy is understood within

EU countries.

 

In educational level, adults should be able to evaluate, consider, and make use of the incredibly wide

range of media and information available in the 21st century makes media and information literacy a

lofty objective. The MIL Skills project is focused to develop and increase the media literacy skills of adults

educators who will be able to recognize fight fake news, propaganda and misleading information and

improve their critical thinking skills and transfer this knowledge to other adults though the

implementation of workshops.

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The MIL Skills project will aim to:

 

→ Support adult educators to develop their media and information skills

→ Introduce educational methodologies and effective teaching tools to adult educators which related

to these skills with the aim to transfer the knowledge to their learners

→ Support adults from disadvantaged groups to develop their media and information skills.

 

Target groups:

 

Direct Target group: Adult educators and Trainers

Indirect Target Group: Adults, adult education centers, Adult training providers working with disadvantaged

learners, Young adults with disabilities (18 to 30 years old).

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