Navigating the Digital World: Mastering Critical Thinking and Media Literacy for Environmental Impact (practitioner level)

Welcome to the lesson on Tackling Misinformation and Media and Information Literacy, “Navigating the Digital World: Mastering Critical Thinking and Media Literacy for Environmental Impact”.

Take your knowledge and skills to the next level in critically evaluating information sources in the digital age in this practitioner-level lesson. It highlights the importance of staying informed and critically assessing information sources in the digital age. It is designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to navigate the complex and constantly evolving digital landscape, empowering you to become an informed, engaged, and responsible digital citizen especially on environmental issues.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Define critical thinking media and information literacy.
Explain the relevance of critical thinking and media literacy in the context of the digital age.
Promote active citizenship and media literacy, emphasizing the importance of being informed and critically evaluating information sources in the digital age especially on climate and environment issues.
Foster critical thinking abilities to assess the credibility, relevance, and accuracy of environmental information encountered in digital and traditional media.
Appreciate the complexity of media content.
Understand the impact of media on society and individuals.

The entire lesson takes approximately 5 hours. It is possible to complete the lesson in one sitting or on several occasions.

Vocabulary list – let´s go through the main definitions together!

Exercise

In this exercise, you will reflect on the concepts of Critical Thinking and Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and explore their importance in today’s digital world, especially in the context of climate and environmental issues.

Instructions:

Read and Reflect:

Read through the provided definitions of Critical Thinking and Media and Information Literacy (MIL). Consider how these concepts are relevant to your daily interactions with information online, especially about environmental topics.

Watch the Video:

Watch the video titled “What is Media and Information Literacy and Why is it Important for Youth Work

Reflection Questions:

After watching the video and reading the content, reflect on the following questions:

How do critical thinking and media literacy relate to your ability to evaluate information about climate change and the environment online?
In the age of information overload, what are some strategies you can use to identify credible sources when researching environmental topics?
How can media illiteracy contribute to the spread of misinformation, especially in relation to climate change and environmental issues?

Write Your Responses:

Take a moment to write your answers on a piece of paper or in your diary to these questions in a few sentences each. Focus on how you can apply critical thinking and media literacy to help navigate digital content related to environmental issues effectively.

Understanding the Significance of Critical Thinking and Media Literacy in the Digital Age:

In this first activity of this lesson, you will explore the fundamental concepts of critical thinking and media and literacy and why they are of paramount importance in today’s digital era.

The Digital Age and Information Overload: In the digital age, we are inundated with information from various sources, including social media, news websites, blogs, and videos. The ease of access to information has both positive and negative implications.

Positive Aspects

Challenges

The Consequences of Media Illiteracy

When individuals lack critical thinking and media literacy skills, they are more susceptible to believing and spreading false information. This can have serious consequences for society, including:

Eroding trust in reliable sources of information.
Polarizing communities by reinforcing preexisting biases.
Undermining informed decision-making in both personal and societal contexts.

Analysing Media Messages and Advertisements

Let’s Develop a Deeper Understanding of Media Content:

Introduction:

You will explore the intricacies of media messages and advertisements. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to develop a deeper understanding of the content presented in various media forms.

How to use information found online & netiquette in an ethical way:

Media as a Multi-Faceted Medium:

Media encompasses a wide range of forms, including newspapers, television, radio, websites, social media, and more.

Each form of media has its unique characteristics, audiences, and purposes.

Impact of Media on Society:

Media plays a significant role in shaping public opinion, influencing cultural norms, and reflecting societal values.

It can educate, entertain, inform, and persuade, making it a powerful tool for communication.

Identifying Persuasive Techniques Used in Media Messages and Advertisements

Understanding Persuasion in Media:

Media often employs persuasive techniques to influence audience beliefs and behaviours.

Recognizing these techniques is essential for media literacy.

Common Persuasive Techniques:

Emotional Appeal: Using emotions to elicit a specific response from the audience.
Rhetorical Devices: Employing language and rhetorical strategies to persuade.
Social Proof: Highlighting endorsements or popularity to sway opinions.
Fear and Scarcity: Creating a sense of urgency or fear to prompt action.
Bandwagon Effect: Encouraging individuals to follow the crowd.

Recognizing the Power of Media in Shaping Public Perception

Media Influence on Perception:

Media can influence how people perceive various issues, groups, and individuals.
It can reinforce stereotypes, challenge prejudices, or provide nuanced perspectives.

Case Studies:

Explore real-world examples of media’s impact on public perception, such as its role in shaping attitudes toward social issues, political candidates, environmental issues and cultural trends.

Some examples you can search for:

Greta Thunberg led to increased climate activism but also triggered online harassment and political backlash.

COVID-19 and the Infodemic: The Spread of Misinformation

The Ukraine-Russia War and Digital Propaganda

European Green Deal aims to make the EU climate-neutral by 2050, but some media outlets and political groups spread misinformation about its impact on jobs and industries.

Ahead of the June 2024 European Parliament elections, the EU’s Green Deal has become a major target of online disinformation. False claims—such as Brussels introducing “carbon passports” to limit individual travel or banning repairs of older cars—have spread widely on social media, particularly among far-right groups, climate skeptics, and conspiracy theorists. These narratives are often amplified by political actors and sometimes even by state-sponsored efforts, like those attributed to Russia.

The Green Deal, a cornerstone policy of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, has faced pushback from the fossil fuel and agricultural sectors, as well as from political opponents. Experts say disinformation often thrives by exaggerating or decontextualizing proposals still under discussion, filling communication gaps left by the EU’s complex, technocratic messaging.

Rather than just relying on fact-checking, some analysts suggest the solution lies in re-politicizing the Green Deal—fostering open political debate that clearly outlines who benefits and who loses, helping citizens better understand and engage with the issues.

Read the full article: EU’s Green Deal target of disinfo

Back to top

Media Literacy and Critical Analysis

Developing media literacy skills will empower you to critically analyse media messages and advertisements.
By recognizing the power of media, you can become a more discerning consumer and contribute to a more informed society.
Digital participation is a new area and there are still many questions about how to do it effectively. Key debates include:

Key debates regarding the digital age and critical thinking.

How can we ensure digital tools and digital methods are accessible and inclusive to a wide range of people?

What competencies do trainers, educators or youth workers need to undertake digital youth work?

How do we connect online discussion and debate to policy making?
How do we deal with issues that affect young people’s media consumption such as fake news and information disorder?
How do we promote young people’s digital safety and data privacy?
How can we ensure that the internet is governed in a way that supports democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Many of these topics are part of much bigger debates that affect all parts of society and not just young people. They reflect the rapid changes that are happening in society because of digitalisation and the effect this is having on democracy.

How do you do it?

Suggested Engagement Activities:

Individual Reflection
Learners can begin by individually reflecting on each question. This could involve:

Writing down thoughts: You can jot down quick responses to the questions in a journal or digital document. This helps in organizing your thoughts and understanding your own stance on each issue.
Mind Mapping – You can create a mind map to explore connections between different aspects of digitalisation, critical thinking, and democracy. This will help you visualize the relationships between issues such as fake news, digital safety, and critical thinking about environmental issues. Use this free online tool to create mind maps https://www.mindmup.com/

Research and Exploration

Explore the topics more deeply by:

Finding reliable resources: research specific aspects of digital safety, policy making, or digital literacy, and summarize key takeaways.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you have been introduced to the concepts of critical thinking and media literacy and highlighted their significance in the digital age. As you progress through this lesson, you will develop the skills needed to navigate the digital information landscape effectively. Υou’ve gained insights into the complexity of media content, identified persuasive techniques commonly used in media messages and advertisements, and recognized the influential role of media in shaping public perception.

Sources

Participation Pool. (2023, October 31). Join the GlobalMIL Week and Boost Your Knowledge with the New SALTO PI Articles. https://participationpool.eu/2023/10/31/join-the-globalmilweek-and-boost-your-knowledge-with-the-new-salto-pi-articles/?fbclid=IwAR3PLck6SKuJVPTDcraYrxU8zBdNekpVifs4bSgxVv8vJzI0nCeTsGHzULk