Co-Designing Media Education Strategies A Workshop on AI and Information Literacy

This article discusses a pilot workshop on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media and information system, conducted as part of the European project "TADAM: Tools and Awareness about (Dis)information, Algorithms, and Media." Designed as part of a two-and-a-half-day of the MED Summer School (associazione Italiana di Media Education) on Artificial Intelligence and Media Education, the workshop gathered 20 participants—primarily educators and PhD students— and focused on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI), fake news, and media education. The goal was to foster a critical understanding of GAI tools in the media and information production landscape, promote the ability to consciously generate content using GAI, and facilitate the transfer of this experience to both school settings and active, informed citizenship. The workshop adopted David Merrill's principles of instructional design, focusing on "learning by doing" and co-design, where participants were actively involved in practical tasks and problem-solving activities. This methodological approach emphasized media production and reflection, fostering design thinking and strategic reflection on the role of AI in media and educational contexts. The main objective was to collaboratively articulate media education strategies, including best practices around the use of algorithms and AI in media environments. Participants engaged in a series of activities that combined hands-on media production with critical analysis, resulting in the co-design of a set of operational guidelines. These guidelines, aimed at enhancing the understanding and use of AI tools in media education, provided practical strategies for application in diverse educational settings. Emphasizing metacognition and reflection, the workshop encouraged participants to critically assess AI's influence on media for fostering informed and active citizenship. The workshop concluded with a plenary session to create guidelines for Expert prompter. Through this experience, participants developed a deeper understanding of the challenges AI poses to information and the tools needed to address them in an educational context.