Service-Learning for Truth: Understanding Narratives of Dis- and Misinformation
Timeline: 1/05/2027 – 31/10/2028
Project partners involved: HBdV, POLITEHNICA, UCSIA, UNIBO, UNIZG & UIB
In a final phase of the SL4DC project, we dive deeper into the relevance of service-learning to face the rise of mis- and disinformation in our contemporary societies. Through service-learning projects, we aim to equip both higher education students and community members with the values, attitudes, skills and knowledge necessary to understand narratives of dis- and misinformation, and to become empowered to overcome issues resolving from it, integrating the four dimensions of the RFCDC model on the topic of information verification.
We will develop new methods for service-learning that will be piloted in different partner institutions involved in the project. Based on the pilots and the lessons learned, we will create training materials for higher education teachers who want to develop their own service-learning practices targeting the challenge of truth, thus enhancing the competences for democratic culture of their students and the community members they collaborate with during the service-learning experience.
Outputs
1) Participatory Framework on Service-Learning in Information Verification
We will develop a framework containing a toolkit for higher education teachers and students on developing service-learning practices fostering competences needed for understanding narratives of dis- and misinformation and to become empowered to overcome issues resolving from it. Particular attention will be paid to ABSL methods. By implementing ABSL (photovoice, graphic storytelling) digital and media literacy training becomes accessible, interactive and impactful.
2) Co-creative Sessions for Developing Service-Learning Projects on Information Verification
Higher education teachers, students and community organizations will co-design service-learning projects that will result in the development of information verification workshops for minors and elderly. During these co-creative sessions, students and community stakeholders (fact-checkers, schools, organizations who work with elderly) will establish a common understanding of the service-learning goals and desired outcomes of the workshops.
3) Pilots of Information Verification Workshops
Students will pilot information verification workshops in the form of service-learning projects, covering fundamentals of media literacy for minors and elderly citizens. Through the workshops, students and community members will enhance their competences on information verification.
4) Practical Guidelines for Higher Education Teachers and Community Organizations
Based on lessons learned from the co-creative sessions and the workshop pilots, we will develop guidelines for higher education teachers and community organizations on how to develop service-learning experiences to foster competences for information verification of students and community members.