Networks and Realities: Media Literacy for Seniors
Networks and Realities: Media Literacy for Seniors
Launching on October 20, 2025
INTRODUCTION
The European project Melise, led by UNED, offers an innovative sMOOC course on media literacy for the over 65s. Launching on October 20, 2025, it is a free and accessible course that promotes critical thinking in a flexible environment adapted to each user. Through gamified thematic blocks presented by fictional «agents», it deals with disinformation, artificial intelligence, opinion formation, audiovisual manipulation and fact-checking.
All this content is explained through short videos, interactive exercises and an educational metaverse of themed rooms and live events. Based on the 7S taxonomy, it promotes collaborative learning, empowerment and critical citizenship, helping this group to navigate safely in the digital age.
OBJECTIVES
- To promote critical understanding of the post-digital society and the impact of emerging technologies on everyday life.
- To encourage critical analysis of the disinformation projected through the media and social networks.
- Develop skills to identify, analyse and verify digital content, applying verification tools.
- Explore and understand the role of Artificial Intelligence and its ethical, social and professional implications.
- Raise awareness of the effects of disinformation and train in strategies for its identification and prevention.
SYLLABUS
The course is set in a James Bond-style detective agency, but instead of working for the Queen of England, we will be fighting against disinformation. We will have 5 agents, who are veteran experts in different fields.
Mission 1: Deciphering the media conundrum
This block is presented by agent Dis. She is a senior researcher in the field of communication and media. The objectives she will have in this block will be:
- Awakening interest in the post-digital society, the evolution of technology and its impact on everyday life.
- Recognise the role of the evolving media and its manipulative strategies.
- Identify the main networks and the social challenge of these networks.
Mission 2: Artificial intelligence under suspicion
Agent In is an expert on technology and artificial intelligence. She takes a futuristic and optimistic approach to the role of artificial intelligence in information. She has a dynamic presentation full of examples. The objectives she will be working on will be:
- Understanding how generative AI works and how it is used.
- Recognise.
- Identify.
Mission 3: Forging a critical shield against disinformation:
Agent For is an open-minded philosopher. With him, three objectives will be set:
- Identify what an opinion is and how it is formed in the digital environment, recognising the influence of media and networks in the creation of opinions.
- Distinguish between reliable sources of knowledge in the digital environment.
- Understand the philosophical positions of realism, relativism and scepticism applied to the analysis of information.
- Apply technological tools to check the veracity of information on social networks, developing a critical perspective on the information consulted.
Mission 4: Unmasking reality
Agent Mat is an expert in media technology and content editing. He gives presentations with practical demonstrations. He works on these three objectives:
- Identify manipulations in images and videos.
- Verify audiovisual content with digital tools.
- Create and share images responsibly.
