Ed Psych Professor Contributes to Media Literacy Efforts in Brazil

Panayiota (Pani) Kendeou, Distinguished McKnight University Professor and Co-Director of the Learning Informatics Lab, was invited to present on Misinformation and Media Literacy to 150 high school students at the Catholic University of Pernambuco (UNICAP) in Brazil. The talk, delivered via Zoom, was part of a project funded by the U.S. Consulate General in Recife Public Affairs Section, aiming to build awareness and skills among public high school students regarding media literacy, a priority for the consulate and across the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Brazil. The project, entitled “Schools Facing Misinformation: Media Literacy for Everyone,” aims to address misinformation by piloting media literacy workshops and seminars for students and teachers at select schools in Pernambuco. Expected outcomes include: (1) improved critical thinking skills regarding media consumption; (2) empowered youth who aim to combat disinformation; and (3) a public policy prototype for Pernambuco State policymakers for replication within the public school system.