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No Cap: online positive narratives for the prevention of radicalisation in Flemish education (ONarVla)

How do you make fake news or polarising or extremist messages, that can lead to violence, less attractive? In 2020 and 2021, Mediawijs, the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, Klasse, CIRRA and KU Leuven provide correct information and alternative narratives and opportunities for democratic engagement to teachers and students in the European No Cap project (youth speak for 'I'm not lying').

For teachers, we make the process of radicalisation and possible push and pull factors visible, we clarify the role and influence of new media and online influencing processes and develop tools and handles about the role they themselves can play in each phase of this process. We offer (vulnerable) young people a place where they can go with questions about identity formation, philosophy and ideology and we offer credible, positive alternatives.

• Timing:  01/01/2020-31/12/2021
• Partners: Vlaams Ministerie Departement Onderwijs en Vorming, Mediawijs, CIRRA, Klasse and Centrum voor Politicologie KU Leuven
• Funding: co-funded by the Internal Security Fund-Police of the European Union

Online information for students and teachers

Conspiracies in times of Corona

Fake News often tries to seduce you: to get personal information or money from you or to convey a certain misleading message. Especially at times that a lot is unclear and uncertain, you are susceptible to fake news. In full COVID-19 lockdown, Mediawijs therefore launched this video message on YouTube and sociale media.

What What are conspiracies? Information for young people

The best channel in Flanders to reach young people directly with good information? That must be Wat Wat (what what). Together with the Wat Wat team, Mediawijs prepared articles about fake news and conspiracy theories, that Wat Wat shared in info posts and stories on Instagram.

• 4 tips to know if a news item is real (NL)
• Why do we believe conspiracy theories? (NL)
• Are some conspiracy theories true? (NL)
• Why don't all scientists say the same thing? (NL)
• How do I recognize a conspiracy theory? (NL)
• How do I talk to someone who believes in a conspiracy theory? (NL)

Informing young people in the classroom? Do it with an EDUbox!

Tensions run high on some issues. It then seems as if you only have a camp "for" and a camp "against". As a teacher, you may avoid such topics because they are too sensitive. That is why there is the EDUbox Us and Them thinking: to allow young people to practice dealing with differences of opinion in the classroom.

This interactive tool contains a small piece of theory, informative videos, some practical exercises and a large discussion format 'Together through one door', in which young people learn to discuss polarising topics with each other. In this way, students gradually get a better grip on the us and them thinking and they stand stronger when facing more difficult subjects.

The EDUbox is a collaboration between Mediawijs, VRT NWS, the Hannah Arendt Institute, Tumult and the Flemish Peace Institute. More about the EDUbox

What's New: Crushing propaganda and conspiracy theories educational pack

For 'What's New' Mediawijs and Kazerne Dossin joined forces. We looked for ways to work with young people about conspiracy theories and propaganda. The aim: to teach young people how to puncture propaganda and conspiracy theories through (historical) examples. This gives them more insight into mechanisms that were used in the past, but also today. Pupils learn to ask critical questions and they learn to unmask what is hidden behind well thought out and attractive messages. That's why we made...

1. a teacher's guide with tips for teaching about propaganda and conspiracy thinking, ready-made lesson ideas about conspiracies and filter bubbles, among other things, how to make propaganda yourself to learn propaganda techniques and references to even more inspiration,
   
   
   
    
2. a bite-sized workshop on conspiracy thinking (presentation and accompanying worksheets),
3. the interactive What’s New app that allows students between the ages of 15 and 18 to discover the power of misleading information in Kazerne Dossin,
4. a poster and the bookmarks propaganda and conspiracy theories as a checklist to recognize propaganda and conspiracy theories,
5. two video interviews with experts explaining how to get started with propaganda and conspiracy theories, 

Online training for teachers

At the end of August 2021 we will launch the online training and Q&A sessions for teachers, register (NL) at www.no-cap.be.

Wat moet je weten over polarisatie en identiteit en hoe kan je je klas kritisch leren omgaan met (des)informatie? Onze nieuwe training No Cap reikt leerkrachten in 3 online modules handvaten aan bij de preventie van radicalisering. #nocapbe #mediawijs
> https://t.co/4eZEjcpufF. pic.twitter.com/JMu5dHrO0s

— Mediawijs (@MediaWijsBe) June 1, 2021

Online learning modules

Once registered for the online training, you can complete it at your own pace (until March 31, 2022). Experts take you through a few pieces of theory in (short) videos. In practical videos you can see how colleagues get started. Reflection exercises stimulate you to think about how you shape all this in your own practice.

There are three modules, each with its own focus. You choose in which order you view and read everything. It is best to complete one module before moving on to the next. Of course you can choose what is most relevant to you.

Q&A-sessions

During three Q&A sessions with experts, you will have the opportunity to ask all your questions that were not answered in the online training. The Q&A sessions always start at 4.30 pm. This way you can ask your questions together with colleagues in the staff room and you will still be home in time for dinner. More practical information about the Q&A sessions will follow.

Themes

Polarisation: every teacher comes into contact with polarisation. In every class sometimes there is a discussion about a current theme or about an incident on the playground. Teachers often avoid those difficult conversations. At the risk of the situation escalating. What do yo do? In this module you will learn how to recognise, prevent and tackle polarisation in your classroom. Subscribe (NL)! Q&A session: Thursday September 20, 2021, 16h30 CET	Identity in a diverse society: every student is a sum of different identities. That creates a lot of diversity in a class. How do you deal with that as a teacher? This module offers you tools to get started with identity and diversity in the classroom. Subscribe (NL)! Q&A session: Monday, October 25, 2021, 16h30 CET	Manipulation vs. truth: how do you teach students to critically deal with the multitude of information (online), without being tempted or misled? In this module you will learn more about manipulation techniques, the role and risks of social media and how to make students more resilient. Subscribe (NL)! Q&A session: Monday September 13, 2021, 16h30 CET

Offline training for teachers

In the course of 2021, Mediawijs will develop and test offline training for teachers.

Informatie voor directies

As a teacher you can do a lot in the classroom, but it only becomes really effective when the whole school is involved. To convince principals, Klasse bundled everything a school needs to know to prevent conflict and polarization in a few articles.

• Read all about the 'prevention pyramid' by criminologist Johan Deklerck (NL).
• Read how media coach Sara De Jaeghere stimulates critical thinking in her school (NL).
• Use the self-scan to find out how well your own school is already doing to prevent polarisation (NL).

	The EDUbox was co-developed with federal grants for equal opportunities.
	What's New was co-developed with the support of the King Baudouin Foundation.
	The 'No Cap' project was co-financed with support from the Internal Security Fund-Police of the European Union. The content only represents the vision of the makers. The European Commission declines any responsibility for the use of information from this project.
	Mediawijs is co-funded by the Flemish Minister of  Media.