In today’s digital world, misinformation and disinformation spread quickly—especially across platforms where young people spend much of their time. To help students build stronger media literacy skills, CBC Kids News set out to create an engaging, teacher‑friendly learning experience that would empower youth to identify fact from fiction. Recognizing the need for an interactive approach that meets kids where they are, CBC teamed up with Logics Academy to bring this vision to life through an immersive Minecraft Education world designed to make critical thinking both fun and meaningful.

“Media literacy is such an
important part of what we do at
CBC Kids News and we need to
continually find ways to create
content where our audience
spends time. With Logics
Academy’s expertise, we’ve been
able to create a world that not
only appeals to students’ gaming
interests but gives teachers a
creative way to explore this topic
in the classroom.”

Lisa Fender Senior Producer of CBC Kids News

Challenge

CBC Kids News, the national public broadcaster’s daily news resource for tweens, was considering ways to engage youth in learning how to differentiate misinformation and disinformation that is ever present in media today. A focus was on determining where kids were spending time and what was a fun and informative way to help them develop media literacy skills that were relevant and easy for the teacher to support.

Solution

CBC approached Logics whose Minecraft world-building expertise and knowledge of the Canadian K – 12 education landscape made them a perfect partner to assist with this project. The two teams collaborated on the concept and vision and quickly determined that an open world build in Minecraft Education was the best environment to stage their story. They also received extensive feedback directly from the CBC Kids ambassadors which helped inform them of the theme and game play.

In the world, students assume the role of a CBC Kids news reporter who must determine whether a rumour about summer vacation being cancelled is fact or fiction. Players navigate through classic Minecraft obstacles and mini-games where they are faced with misinformation and disinformation prompts. Upon conclusion of their investigation, they must construct and publish an accurate story, based on the truth

Results

The launch of this world on May 8, 2023 coincided with the wind down to the school year and several school districts in Canada initiated game play immediately. At a Coquitlam middle school, students loved the experience and Gavin Hannah, STEAM support teacher for the Coquitlam School District, says it's about creating an engaging learning environment. "Kids are immersed in a world, and they can be tuned in and pick up new things and build knowledge as they're exploring the world, in a way that is very special."

Reporting 101: Misinformation is now available for download at Microsoft’s Minecraft Education lesson library for free, with a Minecraft Education Account: Reporting 101: Misinformation | Minecraft Education

Learn more about our community parter, CBC Kids

For more information, contact info@logicsacademy.com

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