Document details

Addressing Conspiracy Theories: What Teachers Need to Know

Paris: UNESCO (2022), 18 pp.

CC BY-SA

Other editions: also published in Spanish

"This document is a first introduction for educators, working in and outside of formal schooling, on how to identify, prevent and address conspiracy theories in education settings. It seeks to provide educators with key definitions and essential knowledge to grasp the complexity of the phenomenon and alert learners about the key characteristics and harmful effects of conspiracy theories for a first, immediate response. To support educators in this endeavour, this document outlines strategies to prevent the belief in conspiracy theories as well as to engage with learners who already believe in them." (Back cover)
Introduction, 4
Why do people believe in conspiracy theories? 6
Why are conspiracy theories popular, 7
How conspiracy theories do damage, 8
Distinguishing between real conspiracies and conspiracy theories, 9
How to identify a conspiracy theory? 10
Addressing conspiracy theories: what can educators do? 13
Check your own beliefs and biases, 13
Building resilience against conspiracy theories, 13
Addressing conspiracy theories when they arise, 16
Additional Resources, 18