From December 15th to 21st, Nova Gradiška, Croatia, became the center for fostering critical thinking and digital responsibility among educators, as part of the FOCUS project. Hosted by Pučko otvoreno učilište AMC, the training brought together 15 educators from Croatia, Germany, and Portugal, along with two expert trainers. The intensive program was rooted in the curriculum developed within the Coherent Minds framework, emphasizing media literacy and the critical evaluation of fake news and its impact on small businesses.
The training aimed to build competencies in critical thinking, media literacy, and digital responsibility. Through interactive sessions, participants engaged with the challenges posed by misinformation, exploring tools and strategies to counter its effects. The educators also tested a newly developed curriculum, which aligns practical activities with theoretical knowledge to address the pervasive influence of fake news on decision-making in small enterprises.
Over five days, participants gained insights into creating and implementing educational programs that encourage digital responsibility. They were equipped to analyze the impact of disinformation, understand its implications for businesses, and teach strategies to mitigate its effects. The program not only enhanced individual skill sets but also strengthened the collaboration between partner organizations, facilitating knowledge exchange and joint problem-solving.
The success of this training underscores the commitment of the partner organizations—Pučko otvoreno učilište AMC (Croatia), OLAE from Lusófona University (Portugal), Pannonia consulting (Croatia), and Youth Power (Germany)—to empowering educators and fostering an informed, responsible approach to digital media. As the project progresses, this network of educators is set to play a pivotal role in disseminating the curriculum and amplifying its impact across their communities.
