Ukrainian activists rally educators for anti-fake games to combat disinformation
The "NotaYenota" project is launching an educational course on organizing and conducting anti-fake games.
Motivated educators, librarians, representatives of civil society organizations, and university students from Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy regions are invited to participate, Rubryka reports.
What's the problem?
According to a USAID-Internews survey on media consumption from July 28 to August 28, 2023, 84% of respondents are aware of misinformation, and 72% believe they can recognize it. Only 38% of those aware of misinformation see it as a pressing issue in Ukraine. 57% consider misinformation a less urgent problem, and 4% find it difficult to evaluate.
The issue of misinformation has been assessed annually since 2019, with its relevance hovering around 35-39% for the past five years. The survey conducted 1,534 interviews in Ukrainian cities with populations of 50,000 or more. The sampling error with a probability of 0.95 does not exceed 2.5%.
What's the solution?
150 selected participants will undergo an educational course, receiving tools and methods for five "NotaYenota" anti-fake games, distribution materials for conducting games, and a plush raccoon mascot. Game developments can be used during lessons or activities in schools, universities, libraries, and public organizations.
The "NotaYenota" anti-fake games are team games for participants aged 13 and older. Their goal is to demonstrate how fakes and disinformation work, teach to identify hostile influences, and counter manipulations based on real-life cases.
How does it work?
The "NotaYenota" educational course includes a series of training webinars with detailed analysis of game tasks, practical lectures on writing posts and creating photo and video content for social media, and webinar meetings on current fakes and information attacks.
All participants who successfully complete the course will receive certificates (1 ECTS credit or 30 hours), as well as posters with media literacy tips and raccoon comics for future use in work and organizing future events.
The course will last from April to June 2024. To successfully complete the program, you need to attend training webinars on conducting "NotaYenota" games and organize at least three "NotaYenota" games by the end of June 2024.
The 30 best specialists who conduct the most or most creative games by the end of spring will be invited to participate in the "NotaYenota" conference, which will take place at the end of the program in Kyiv.
Participation in the "NotaYenota" program is an opportunity to gain practical knowledge and skills in organizing and conducting anti-fake games and access to game developments about fakes and manipulations, which will help promote media literacy and creatively develop critical thinking among students.
Despite being targeted at participants from Chernihiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, and Sumy regions, motivated educators from other regions of Ukraine can also join. They will receive online course materials, attend guest lectures, and participate in game set giveaways upon the game organization.
Participation in the program is free. To participate in the selection, fill out the form by March 31, 9:00 p.m.
The "NotaYenota" anti-fake game was initiated by a fact-checker, chief editor of the fact-checking projects "NotaYenota" and "Beyond Putin's Lies," and lecturer at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Aliona Romaniuk.
This project is implemented by the NGO Information Analysis Center "Lakmus" with the support of the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, financed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States, Finland, Switzerland, and Sweden.
In related news, the book "Ukraine im Fokus: Propaganda erkennen, Fakten verstehen" ("Ukraine in Focus: Recognizing Propaganda, Understanding Facts") was presented in Germany.
