As AI-generated misinformation rises, educators play a crucial role in teaching students to navigate digital deception ahead of the 2024 election. Learn how!
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October 24, 2024
We must teach our students to see past the digital smoke and mirrors. AI literacy is a crucial element of civic education, especially in a world where disinformation can influence real-world outcomes.
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Growing up, my mom was a pro at pulling classic tricks on me. “Did you know ‘gullible’ isn’t in the dictionary?” she’d say, and off I’d run to check an old-school dictionary, you know, the thick book with paper and not the internet, only to realize (once again) that I’d been duped. Well, in 2024, the stakes are much higher than childhood pranks—especially with the election less than two weeks away and AI-generated disinformation becoming an increasing threat.
From AI-generated deepfakes to misleading political ads, technology has evolved into a powerful tool for spreading misinformation. But we can’t afford to be gullible. Whether it’s a viral video of a candidate saying something outrageous or a suspiciously polished article that seems a little too extreme, we must remain vigilant and cast a critical eye on the information we encounter online.
This election season, AI-generated misinformation is everywhere—and it’s alarmingly sophisticated. Deepfake videos, for example, can make it look like celebrities or politicians are saying things they never said. Take a recent public service announcement regarding the election that featured Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Laura Dern, Rosario Dawson, Orlando Bloom, Jonathan Scott and Michael Douglas—except not all of the celebrities in the video were real. Some were deepfakes, cleverly designed to raise awareness about how AI can manipulate information especially around the election. In their short video, they ask all of us to stay vigilant, learn what false information looks like, and protect our vote this November.
As we get closer to the November election, bad actors are using these AI tools to create confusion about voting procedures or even smear political candidates. AI-generated misinformation could convince voters that their polling station has moved, that voting hours have changed, or that a certain ID is required—all of which could deter people from voting. Represent Us has a nice tool you can use to get official information about the election. Check out the link here for more.
And this is where we, as educators, come in. We must teach our students to see past the digital smoke and mirrors. AI literacy is a crucial element of civic education, especially in a world where disinformation can influence real-world outcomes.
Through the AI Educator Brain series, we’ve been exploring ways to incorporate AI literacy into our teaching strategies. During a recent webinar, we provided tip sheets on AI Literacy and the Election, which include steps for teaching students how to critically evaluate AI-generated content, like deepfakes or altered political ads. These resources are designed to help educators guide their students through the complexities of AI in the electoral process, emphasizing skills like fact-checking, reverse image searching, and using AI-detection tools.
Additionally, we recently hosted a two-part webinar series on the election with the National Constitution Center and Generation Citizen, focusing on grounding students in democratic principles, such as the rule of law, separation of powers, and checks and balances. By using primary sources like the U.S. Constitution, we can help students engage deeply with these foundational ideas.
This series also highlighted how local elections—such as school boards and city councils—often have a more immediate impact on our daily lives than federal elections. Teaching students to value these local roles is key to fostering meaningful civic engagement.
And last year, we worked with a cadre of AFT members to create a disinformation/misinformation guide, complete with case studies and practical examples you can use with your students. This toolkit offers strategies to help students critically analyze information they encounter online and identify false or misleading content. It includes lesson plans, activities and slide decks that break down the disinformation cycle, explore the role of algorithms on social media, and even use historical examples like yellow journalism to help students understand the long-standing impact of disinformation. By incorporating these resources into your classroom, you can empower students to navigate today's digital landscape with confidence and to discern fact from fiction.
While we’re busy teaching students the importance of their voice in democracy, let’s not forget our own. As educators, we understand that policy impacts the classroom—whether it’s funding, education standards, or even the integration of technology like AI. We need to stay informed, cast our ballots, and advocate for the policies and leaders that will positively impact our schools and communities.
By voting, we model active citizenship for our students, showing them that democracy isn’t a passive right—it’s an active responsibility. And, just as we tell them to avoid being duped by misinformation, we need to stay vigilant ourselves. Before casting your vote, make sure you’ve checked your polling location through official channels and verified that the information you’re relying on is accurate.
Once the ballots are counted, AI will still be here, transforming how we teach, learn, and even assess students. That’s why we’re continuing the conversation beyond the election. Our AI Educator Brain offers on-demand webinars and tip sheets on AI literacy that you can use right now in your classroom with topics on prompting, creating lesson plans, and using AI for assessments.
Join us for this hands-on session where we’ll explore how to craft the perfect prompts to unlock AI’s potential in your classroom. Whether you’re looking to streamline lesson planning or engage students in new ways, this webinar is your toolkit for mastering AI. Not only that, we also have a special guest. A prompt engineer from OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT, will join us for this conversation.
Have a class full of Minecraft enthusiasts? This session is designed to turn their love of gaming into a pathway for learning AI and coding. During Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week, we’ll show you how to leverage Minecraft’s new AI resources to create an engaging, educational experience that brings AI and coding to life, and we’re bringing a team from Minecraft Education to show us how!
As we approach this crucial election, let’s embrace our role not only as educators but also as protectors of truth and democracy. We can’t afford to be passive—neither in the classroom nor in the voting booth. Through teaching AI literacy, encouraging informed voting and staying engaged, we’re shaping the next generation of active, informed citizens. Our voice is powerful, and so is theirs.
Let’s use that power wisely, teach with intention and vote with purpose. After all, democracy depends on it.
Explore our election resources to engage your students in learning about the election process and its significance at every level. Discover lessons on election fundamentals, laws, security, current events, youth involvement, and historic U.S. elections.
December 12, 2024
