FakeNews&Elders - Elders in the Times of Fake News and Information Overload.

Europe has the highest proportion of seniors, where 18% of the population is over the age of 65. Older people are often at risk of digital exclusion and digital divide, which prevents elders from ...

When summarising the main project achievements, we should refer to the addressees of project results. 1st group are elders (55+) who can gain new competencies on critical thinking, scientific thinking and copi ng successfully with overwhelming digital communication. The second group are people working with the elders on a daily basis and also encounter problems related to the dynamic digital changes and the growing popularity of digital media. It includes: local animators, employees (teachers and an administrative staff) of Universities of Third Age or initiative groups working with mature people, libraries, trainers working with adults, social workers. Our project bridges the digital divide of older people by: (1) sustaining active citizenship by avoiding risk of marginalization of groups affected by knowledge divide in digital society. Negative outcomes of a “grey” digital divide are: limited use of on-line public services, social and civil exclusion. It prevents elders from accessing important information and services related to science and technology that can offer benefits for autonomy and well-being. (2) improving elders’ media communication competences with a focus on ability to critically evaluate media and its use.

The project resulted in key FakeNews&Elders supporting tools: (1) Anatomy of miscommunication and fake news – a guide to understand how mass communication works. This result provides basic knowledge of the scientific and science communication process, fake news and deep news and the tools to detect them (websites, analytical methodologies, etc.) and individual coping strategies. The guide provides insight into how fake news can be spread and manipulated on social media. (2) A practical course for elders on using media communication in a critical way; The course consists of four fundamental concepts: (a) what fake news looks like and (b) practical activities on how to identify them, (c) media literacy basics and (d) social media problematic. Participants can learn how to spot misinformation in the Internet and verify the images, videos, and news. Participants can also learn how to work with Facebook and other social media platforms, how to fact-check information using the right tools or report false ones. The course includes activities, readings, and quizzes to practise fact-checking skills which is an important part of the course. (3) Methodological guide for organisations working with elders. The methodological guide offers knowledge and skills to help adult educators to deliver the training and implement a constructive learning environment for seniors using the FakeNews&Elders resources. It includes principles of pedagogy, andragogy, senior learning needs, mentoring approaches, individualised support approaches and other themes produced by the project partners. An important part of this guide are: Toolbox for Adult Educators/social workers and Bank of good examples. (4) Educational Boards. The boards have an educational purpose and contain key information about fake news and how to deal with this phenomenon. The slogans are illustrated with eye-catching graphics. The boards have been produced on a rigid backing and are ready to be hung in the places often visited by elders. After the elaboration of the guidelines and the initial concept, the development, piloting, necessary adjustments and implementation followed. Each time this was done taking into account the needs and expectations of the audience, including research and analysis, in accordance with the principles of citizen science and participation. The cross-cutting assumption was also to ensure high innovation, easy and wide transferability of project results. Associated partners also played an important role in the project. In the course of the project they supported the partners in every step of the project and they also disseminated the results using their extensive network of contacts.

There are two types of results of the project - tangible and intangible. Most relevant FakeNews&Elders tangible products are: 1. Anatomy of miscommunication and fake news – a guide to understand how mass communication works; 2. A practical course for elders on using media communication in a critical way; 3. Methodological guide for organisations working with elders. 4. Educational Boards. In addition to the above mentioned Intellectual Outputs, the following outcomes were delivered: project visual identification, Website, Newsletters, Quality Assurance and Management, Dissemination activities, Project movie, Technical reports (interim and final), Multiplier events in each partners’ country and a European conference in GR. They were prepared in English and all partners’ languages (PL, ES, CZ, IT, FR, GR). Intangible results are an important complement to tangible products. Acquisition of new knowledge, skills and consequently change of attitudes and habits concern mainly elders. However, people from their close circle - local animators, employees of Universities of the Third Age, NGOs or initiative groups working with people in old age, librarians, associates parish associations, farmers' clubs and societies, trainers and counsellors working with adults, social workers can also develop their competences. Also further stakeholders, drawing from the project experience, may develop awareness, increase curiosity and become convinced of the contemporary importance and relevance of the project topic. By providing support not only to elders, but also to a wide range of people working with them in their daily work, the competencies of educators and other staff involved in adult education can also be improved. Higher competences of these groups may lead to a general improvement in the focus and effectiveness of adult education. This enriches the toolbox of educators with tools to raise awareness and motivate people in old age. Project Results and other materials were created with a view to building and strengthening European identity. Moreover, thanks to the partners' extensive experience with working with elders, the Results planned in the FakeNews&Elders project take into account the expectations of people in old age and the organizations and stakeholders working with them. The highest standards of ethical working, the ethos of lifelong learning and motivation were maintained and motivators were incorporated.