MEDMAS: for civic and digital education

On 10, 11, 24 and 25 June, the museum experienced four days of great educational importance through the implementation of four workshops on media literacy within the European project   Media Master: Enhancing Media Literacy – MEDMAS. The activities were held in “La Redazione” of Scomodo, a youth organization dedicated to the creation of social and cultural spaces for the young generation. 

During the workshops the topic of digital and media education was tackled through an engaging and innovative activity: use a game to support youth in recognizing fake news. The workshops opened with an introduction on the project, followed by a  talk on the topic held by  Scomodo’s editorial team.

It continued , with the testing of  MEDMAS’s multilingual board game,  which was designed to simulate realistic scenarios on fake, distorted or misleading news and ended with a session of discussion and feedbacks on the game functionality.

A game to educate critical thinking

The heart of the  workshops were the MEDMAS’s game, featuring a mobile app that asks questions and presents  simulated situations inspired by real events: historical, sporting, political and geographical.Indeed, these topics are often subject to media manipulation that fuel media disinformations.

During the workshops the participants were asked to recognise and deconstruct through direct discussion, reflection and teamwork, the participants were able to train their critical thinking and refine their ability to distinguish information and disinformation.

This approach to disinformation is both an  educational exercise,and a gaming experience which transforms  learning into a shared, dynamic and interactive experience.

A European project, an educational mission

MEDMAS is a project co-funded by the European Union’s CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme.

Its main objective is to promote media literacy and civic engagement in nine EU countries, involving different target groups: secondary school students, university students, educators and journalists.

Divided into five thematic areas of work, the project includes 45 events and the involvement of over 3,000 participants through debates, conferences, round tables and educational activities.

All this with a clear mission: to provide concrete tools for navigating a complex and often misleading media ecosystem.

Young people as protagonists of change

One of the most significant aspects of the project is the active involvement of young people: MEDMAS demonstrates that, when stimulated with appropriate tools and language that is relevant to their contemporary world, young people can become protagonists of change and informed citizens, capable of contributing to a culture of dialogue, responsibility and democratic participation.

The museum as a contemporary educational space

The participation in this project confirms the Explora’s educational vocation, increasingly open to European projects, educational experimentation and innovative practices. The museum is thus not only a place of conservation, but also a living laboratory of active citizenship, ready to welcome and accompany the new generations on their educational journey.

The Media Masters Workshops – Playing the Educational Game was a workshop organised in collaboration with the youth association Scomodo ETS, which focuses on participatory journalism and engaging young people in social and political life.

Thanks to the collaboration with Scomodo, it was possible to include the MediaMaster game in a broader awareness-raising programme against disinformation, a particularly important issue for the younger generation.

 Working with a youth association brought the initiative closer to young people, creating a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where they could express themselves freely.

The organisation of the event also followed this spirit: instead of adopting a formal or institutional approach, a more open and participatory bottom-up approach was chosen. This encouraged dialogue, active participation and the inclusion of all those present.

The challenges of teaching

The youth  event was followed by the teachers’ event at the Scomodo editorial office on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 June: two days in which participants learned about the MEDMAS game and, through debate and discussion, explored the design of educational and training experiences capable of cultivating a sense of curiosity and freedom in young people.

Explora cherishes an ongoing dialogue with teachers: the MEDMAS events were a discussion of modern educational challenges and a reflection on the future of participatory and positive teaching.