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 for primary education from accross Europe. In the next section, you will find good practices for secondary education.

Practice scenarios for primary education

Criticat - Belgium

Target group: primary education

It is impossible to shield children from fake news. However, we can teach them to critically evaluate the information that comes their way. Criticat teaches primary school children critical thinking skills.

When is something true? Do we think with our emotions or our reasoning? Who determines what truth is? Criticat encourages children in elementary school to think critical about media messages. Reflecting critically on media, the message, and the messenger makes them resilient against fake news. In a series of philosophical stories, Criticat takes on the role of a philosophical detective cat and teaches children in a playful manner to distinguish between fact and fiction.

The manual consists of stories and an exciting series of questions and thinking exercises.

Criticat is a tool by Mediawijs and Odisee (Belgium)

Hero Tricks: A digital message in a bottle - Austria

Target group: primary education

Students create a hero using digital media. In this series of lessons, students learn:

• Distinguishing between real and virtual worlds
• Understanding how to change the appearance of reality through active digital design and creation
• Technical experience using filming equipment and programs
• Reflecting on the usage of digital media to create heroes, and identity work with respect to these
• Understanding the significance of IT in everyday life
• Understanding how to responsibly use media and IT
• Creativity, imagination, and joy of experimentation

Find more information on the website of Education group.

Respect for oneself and others in the virtual world - Croatia

Target group: primary education

This practice is a teacher's guide on fostering respect and safety in the virtual world. It includes conversation starters regarding personal data and the distinction between public and private profiles. Additionally, it addresses appropriate online responses and the avoidance of online exclusion.

Download the teacher's guide below or find more info on the website of Medijaska Pismenost.

Spaghetti tree: introduction into critical media literacy questions - Germany

Target group: primary education/secondary education

Students engage in unpacking the famous spaghetti harvest hoax video, practicing questioning media and assessing credibility. Is this story real or fake? Deconstruct design, narration, voice, language and genre.

How?

Watch the video with your students and discuss. Let them exchange in pairs what they just saw. After that, have a classroom discussion sharing the reflections from pair exchange.With this excercise, students apply critical thinking, empowering them to engage critically with media in daily life.