Short introduction to this modul Conspiracy theories, prevalent worldwide and across various domains, span from political controversies to scientific claims, often straddling the line between widely accepted and fringe beliefs. They can be challenging to verify, potentially leading to serious consequences when acted upon without factual basis, as seen in the case of the 2020 US election and the subsequent attack on the US Capitol. To navigate this complex landscape, it is imperative to critically analyze such theories and rely on credible sources of information. This module aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to comprehend and address the multifaceted nature of conspiracy theories through various training activities. Below you will find a list of training activities you can implement with your class/young people with the purpose of gaining knowledge and abilities dealing with various aspects related to conspiracy theories. |
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What is a conspiracy theory?
The information bubble
Why do we believe in conspiracy theories?
Fact checking
What is critical thinking?
How to escape the rabbit hole?
Activity description
5 minutes.
Trainer presentation and instruction.
15 minutes.
1: Participants take one card at a time and read it aloud and discuss if they have heard about it before, and then rank them using the “Conspiracy ranking” document after how likely the theories are to be true.
2: The group will most likely not agree on this ranking so if there a different attitudes in the group - each viewpoint will get 1 minute to argue their case.
3: The group then votes on the ranking based on the arguments.
15 minutes.
4: Each group will then (loyally) present the group findings for the rest of the class with a short description of the Conspiracy theory and how likely they think it is to be true.
15 minutes.
