Teachers will be offered training to tackle online conspiracies and misinformation as part of a new effort to help pupils think critically and navigate the online world.
Two programmes are being set up by the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) and University College London’s Institute of Education (IOE) to support teachers and school leaders “on the front line of a new challenge”.
A new Centre for Digital Information Literacy in Schools, led by NIoT and funded by the Pears Foundation, is being created.
The centre’s work will include national training for teachers, leadership qualifications and school governance, alongside new online learning modules and classroom resources.
It will be led by Pip Sanderson, director of teacher development at NIoT, and will be delivered through the charity’s national network of campuses.
Practical training on online conspiracies
The IOE’s project will cover both primary and secondary schools and aims to provide teachers with practical training, online resources and classroom materials.
For secondary schools and initial teacher training (ITT) providers, it will pilot a CPD offer. This will then be refined and rolled out to 50 schools and to ITT providers.
Primary schools will be involved in a research project, including a literature review, resource review and focus groups with primary teachers to understand their experiences and needs in responding to online conspiracies and misinformation. A CPD session will then be created and piloted, drawing on this research.
The Commission into Countering Online Conspiracy in Schools has warned that conspiracy beliefs and misinformation have become widespread among young people.
Some 77 per cent of teachers told the commission that it was their responsibility to address conspiracy theories when they came up in the classroom.
‘New and urgent challenge’
NIoT chief executive Melanie Renowden said: “Teachers are on the front line of a new and urgent challenge - supporting young people to navigate a world increasingly shaped by misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy beliefs.
“Yet too often, they’re doing so without the tools, training or confidence they need. That’s why we’re proud to launch the Centre for Digital Information Literacy in Schools, generously supported by the Pears Foundation.”
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