The main objective of this project was to develop critical thinking skills among university teachers and students of different educational degrees, emphasizing that they had to be critical with the information they received, as they were the main shapers of the society of the future. In order to develop critical thinking skills, the project proposed to work on the subject of fake news. To this end, the project developed an online In-Service Training and an Interactive Environment that addressed these issues.
The decision to apply for this project was motivated by the growing global impact of fake news, which has proven to influence major societal decisions. According to several studies, the influence of fake news in the U.S. elections was not an isolated event. As defined in Chulvi (2018), the acceptance of Brexit in Great Britain and the Colombian rejection of the peace referendum are also examples of how disinformation can shape political outcomes. Additionally, political parties worldwide have increasingly exploited fake news to sway public opinion, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when fake news circulated widely in Spain and Ireland, undermining trust in governments. This project addressed these needs by fostering critical thinking, a transversal skill essential in European curricula. University students were targeted as they are regular social media consumers and exposed to the bombardment of information. Teachers were also included, as they play a key role in shaping students’ critical thinking skills. By addressing these needs, the project aimed to contribute to a better-informed and resilient society capable of tackling fake news.