🛡️ Disinformation and Information Security

Workshop materials • ages 18–30 • 180 minutes • In-person format

đź“‹ Workshop overview

🎯 Main goal

Participants learn to recognise 5 signals of disinformation, apply the SIFT algorithm (Stop–Investigate–Find better coverage–Trace back to the source) and Lateral Reading, and create a Code of responsible sharing.

đź‘Ą Target group

  • Age: 18–30
  • Group size: 15–20
  • Duration: 180 minutes
  • Format: In-person

🧠 Learning outcomes

Knowledge: Recognises manipulation types, knows SIFT basics and lateral reading

Skills: Identifies 5 warning signs, performs fact-check

Attitudes: Responsibility for sharing, curiosity instead of outrage

📦 Final products

  • Card I1 “Fake news signals”
  • Card I2 “SIFT – 4 steps”
  • Card I3 “Verification checklist”
  • Card I4 “Fact-checking report”
  • Poster “Code of responsible sharing”

⚠️ Sensitivity note

Avoid stigmatising examples about migrants/refugees; work on neutral or anonymised content. When tension arises — pause; if needed, use fictional headlines.

⏰ Workshop schedule (180 minutes)

0–15'

Opening and ground rules

Goal: Safety and the “why”

Rules (voluntary participation, confidentiality, right to pause, kindness); explanation about using neutral examples

15–25'

Icebreaker “Emotion triggers”

Goal: Make the impact of emotions on sharing visible

List emotions that drive sharing; create a word cloud

25–35'

Mentimeter PRE

Goal: Baseline

3 questions assessing initial knowledge

35–70'

MODULE 1 – Game “Clickbait or fact?”

Goal: Recognise manipulation signals and train “STOP before sharing”

Sort headlines into 3 stacks with justification using Card I1 signals

70–80'

Micro‑summary M1

Goal: Write down 5 warning signals

Flipchart “Our TOP‑5 signals”

80–90'

BREAK

Time to rest and network

90–115'

MODULE 2 – SIFT toolkit + lateral reading

Goal: Learn and practise quick verification steps

Introduction to the 4 SIFT steps, pair exercise

115–125'

Energiser “3‑2‑1 move”

Short movement reset; change seats at tables

125–160'

MODULE 3 – Team fact‑checking and Code

Goal: Produce a mini‑report and write down sharing rules

Fill in Card I4, peer review, create the Code on A3

160–172'

Mentimeter POST + reflection

Goal: Assess growth and solidify the habit

Same 3 questions; choose 1 Code rule as a 7‑day habit

172–180'

Closing and “small step”

Photo of the Code poster and reports; proposal to display it in the room/online group

🔍 SIFT algorithm – 4 verification steps

S

STOP

Break the impulse to share. Pause when you feel a strong emotion.

I

INVESTIGATE

Check the source — who is publishing and what do others say about them?

F

FIND

Look for other credible coverage of the topic.

T

TRACE

Go back to the original recording/quote/photo.

đź’ˇ Extra techniques for image/video verification:

  • Check publication date
  • Reverse‑image search
  • Look for signs of editing/AI (odd hands/artifacts, unnatural backgrounds)
  • Compare across different search engines

🎮 Interactive game: “Clickbait or fact?”

How to play:

Below you’ll find sample headlines. Click each to classify it as:

  • Credible — likely true
  • Not credible — likely false
  • Needs verification — requires additional checking

“SHOCKING! Scientists discovered the key to eternal life — YOU MUST SEE THIS!”

Click to classify

“The Ministry of Health announces new vaccination guidelines”

Click to classify

“Expert warns: This popular food may be deadly!”

Click to classify

“University of Warsaw study: 67% of students use social media for over 3 hours daily”

Click to classify

“URGENT! The government is hiding the truth about 5G — here’s the proof!”

Click to classify

“New AI technology to help diagnose rare diseases — research findings”

Click to classify

👨‍🏫 Trainer guide

Room:

“U‑shape” + 4 tables; 1 flipchart + markers; projector

Printed materials (A4, 1 per person):

  • Card I1 — 5 fake‑news signals
  • Card I2 — SIFT (Stop–Investigate–Find–Trace)
  • Card I3 — Verification checklist
  • Card I4 — Fact‑checking report (1 page)
  • Rubric I‑RAP — Report assessment
  • A3 paper for the “Code of responsible sharing” poster

HEADLINE card set:

12–16 printed headlines (true/modified, neutral topics + a few on technology/health)

  • Emotion detox: if outrage appears — remind STOP; move to step‑by‑step verification
  • Neutral examples: choose content that doesn’t personalise nationalities/groups
  • Plain language: short instructions on cards; pictograms
  • Model the tools: demonstrate live how you do lateral reading

Language barrier:

Icon‑based cards; short notes allowed in UA/RU/EN; pair work in mixed‑language pairs

No internet:

Work fully on printouts (screenshots, “about us” pages, old/new photos for comparison)

Less time (120’):

Shorten M1 to 20’, M2 to 20’, M3 to 25’; Code in 5 minutes — each person adds 1 rule

More time (+30’):

Add a segment on AI‑generated images (artifacts) and the clickbait attention economy (how algorithms work)

Before the workshop:

  • Print cards I1–I4 and rubrics
  • Prepare the HEADLINE set
  • Set up Mentimeter
  • Test the connection (if online demo)

After the workshop:

  • Photos of the Code and reports
  • Save Mentimeter results
  • List of “small steps”

đź“Š Evaluation system

Mentimeter questions (PRE and POST)

1 (not at all) 1 2 3 4 5 5 (very well)
1 (not at all) 1 2 3 4 5 5 (very well)
1 (not at all) 1 2 3 4 5 5 (very well)

đź’ˇ Tip for POST:

Ask for a short comment: “What will you use most often — STOP, lateral reading, or image verification?”

Indicators for the report

  • Mentimeter PRE/POST — 3 questions
  • Outputs: Cards I1–I4, Code poster, I‑RAP rubrics (peer review)
  • Trainer observation: 2–3 reports assessed with I‑RAP; list of “small steps”
  • Attendance and consents: attendance list; consents for photos of outputs