In Estonia, students will soon learn to identify fake news and verify information through a unique game developed on the Minecraft platform.
This week, the Center for Information on Security and Defense held its first seminar for Estonian school teachers, introducing an interactive computer game called "Hunting for Fakes," aimed at enhancing critical thinking skills among students.
According to Dmitry Teperik, director of the Center, the game was developed by the Lithuanian company "Three Cubes" with support from Google. A pilot project was launched in Lithuania last year, covering over 60 schools where the game served as an additional educational tool.
The game can be used across various subjects, primarily focusing on developing skills in critical thinking, information analysis, and identifying false sources. The Lithuanian project has already expanded into schools in Latvia.
Teperik noted that the Center also decided to join this initiative, conducting the first seminar for teachers from Russian-speaking schools in Tallinn, where they presented the game and discussed the relevance of media literacy and information security skills.
Teachers from ten different schools attended the seminar, with a similar event planned for Estonian-language schools in early January.
Teperik highlighted that the rise of artificial intelligence presents new opportunities for the spread of misinformation and manipulation, potentially damaging public trust in media and government institutions. The "Hunting for Fakes" game was created as an effective tool to combat fake news by combining educational content with gaming elements, featuring multiple levels.
On average, students complete the game in about 25-30 minutes, allowing teachers to introduce the topic and conclude the lesson within a 45-minute class.
The game has been adapted and translated into Estonian, making it a valuable tool for enhancing critical thinking and language skills among Russian-speaking students.
The Center for Information on Security and Defense, in collaboration with teachers, plans to conduct pilot lessons from January to May 2025 to gather feedback from students. A final seminar will take place in May to review results and provide recommendations to the game's developers for further improvement.
More information about the game can be found on the website www.valeinfo.ee.