EXERCISE IN A BOX (CASE STUDY)
The Flat Earth Hoax
TOPIC
DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY
RECOMMENDED AGE GROUP
16-17 YEARS OLD
DURATION
60 MIN
OVERVIEW
This lesson teaches students how to discern the credibility of online content by understanding internet hoaxes, deepfakes, and confirmation bias. By the end of the lesson, students will be better equipped to identify misleading information, avoid scams, and challenge their own beliefs to engage in constructive discussions.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will be able to:
Identify the potential risks and consequences of deepfake technology on society, politics, and individuals.
Develop strategies for identifying and debunking internet hoaxes in digital media consumption.
Recognise the effects of confirmation bias in manipulated content, and understand how to fact-check and critically analyse information to avoid being misled.
KEY CONCEPTS
About This Resource
What is Exercise-in-a-Box?
“Exercise in a Box” lessons are self-contained lessons designed by Cyberlite to teach students about cyber wellness and online safety in an interactive manner. Each lesson provides a safe environment for students to practice responses to real-world cyber issues, building situational awareness and promoting lasting behavioural change.
How It's Different
Our approach stands out by promoting active, inquisitive learning rather than passive instruction. Students are encouraged to investigate, ask questions, and discuss openly, which enhances their critical thinking and situational awareness. By working through realistic scenarios that evolve over time, students gain a deeper understanding of how cyber issues develop and learn practical strategies for managing them.
Realistic Scenarios for Every Lesson
Through captivating storytelling, each lesson immerses students in contemporary cyber wellness issues through an interactive scenario. Each scenario includes realistic depictions of text conversations, social media posts, news articles, and online forums between complex characters. Students must piece together these fragments to uncover the full story. This exercise highlights how cyber issues can escalate over time and encourages critical thinking through guided discussion questions. By examining these scenarios, students develop situational awareness and learn to identify and address cyber safety issues effectively.
About the Internet Independent Framework
This lesson is part of the Internet Independent Framework, a comprehensive curriculum designed to teach students critical digital skills and online safety. Aligned with global best practices, the framework provides guidance for educators to teach cyber safety, generative AI, and digital wellbeing. Explore the framework here.