Media Literacy Game for Detecting Viral Deceptions

NewsFeed Defenders, by iCivics and FactCheck.org, is a free media literacy game that engages students with the standards of journalism, showing them how to spot a variety of methods behind the viral deceptions they face today. To play the game, students join a fictional social media site focused on news and information, where they meet challenges to level up from guest user to site administrator. They can reach this level only by spotting dubious posts that try to sneak in through hidden ads, viral deception, and false reporting. In addition to maintaining a high-quality site, students are charged with growing traffic while keeping posts on topic. FactCheck.org also hosts lesson plans, misinformation directories, videos, and a teacher extension pack for use with projectors or interactive whiteboards.

Media Literacy Civic Literacy Journalism Social Media

Video Series on Constitutional History and Civic Holidays

Created and produced by the National Constitution Center, Constitution Hall Pass features the museum’s education staff, distinguished scholars, and even some well-known faces who bring the story of America’s democracy to life. Through this free video series, students will explore America’s civic holidays and constitutional history.

Video Series for Evaluating Digital Information

Crash Course is an educational YouTube channel started by the Green brothers, Hank Green and John Green, who are notable for their VlogBrothers channel. Crash Course has been working with MediaWise, a project from the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies, to help students evaluate the accuracy of digital information.

SPOTLIGHT! On Using Captioned Media to Improve Literacy

Described and Captioned Media Program’s (DCMP) Read Captions Across America (RCAA) is the first national reading event to put emphasis on the importance of captioned media as a reading tool for all children, not just those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Thousands of students have participated in this event since its inauguration in 2006. Teachers can order a free RCAA kit, learn more about how captioning improves literacy, and find great ideas from teachers and parents on the RCAA website.

Educators can also use these captioned media resources from DCMP to celebrate Black History Month (February) and Presidents Day (February 18)—and throughout the year.

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