In recent years the study of propaganda has diminished in educational settings. At the same time, we are surrounded by more biased messages than ever with today's technology-rich, 24-hour information cycle. Students, who sometimes lack the skills and experience to think critically about these messages, might feel overwhelmed, leading to a "tuning-out" phenomenon. In addition, it can be more difficult to recognize concerted propaganda efforts in today's fragmented media environment.
Critical thinking about propaganda messages and understanding propaganda’s intent are crucial responsibilities of citizenship in the twenty-first century.
This site is intended to provide an opportunity for educators and students to explore the subject of propaganda. Entering into a discussion through the lens of history contextualizes the topic of propaganda and raises questions about the use and potential impact of new media and technologies. This forum encourages dialogue, active engagement, interpretation, and analysis.
Engaging with Mind over Media:
This site offers a forum for students to engage in critical analysis of propaganda and its impact. It provides tools to help students identify propaganda, think about how it works, and consider when it becomes a danger to society. The lessons below deal with recognizing propaganda and building media literacy skills to assess the impact of propaganda on public opinion and behavior. It is recommended that students actively engage in all aspects of this project to maximize their learning. This includes opportunities to:
These lessons were designed to enhance learning about propaganda using content from the exhibition, State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda. They provide an opportunity for teachers to use a new framework for teaching propaganda. Where traditional methods focus on identifying propaganda techniques, this approach encourages deeper critical thinking and reflection. These lessons explore contexts in which societies can become vulnerable to extreme messages, equip students with critical thinking skills to assess propaganda's potential consequences, and empower them to respond to messages that could be dangerous, including hate speech.
Throughout this unit students will be asked to reflect on three guiding questions.
View the curricular unit, Redefining How We Teach Propaganda.
Mind Over Media: Analyzing Contemporary Propaganda - Hosted by the Media Education Lab, this "sister site" invites you to analyze and discuss contemporary propaganda. Browse and rate images and videos in the online gallery. Teachers and students can upload their own examples and create private online galleries of images for classroom use.