"<< Background >>Background / ContextThe Internet and social media have changed the ways citizens access and engage with news. Many people turn to online media to get the information they want (European Commission, 2018). But one of the problems that online media come with is disinformation and fake news, as they may have severe consequences and can cause public harm, threaten democracy, and affect people in making decisions. The exposure of citizens to large-scale disinformation, and false information, is a major challenge for Europe [Source: http://bit.ly/3l0vdSP].Needs / ProblemAccording to a Flash Eurobarometer study (Fake News and Disinformation Online) 37% of the respondents believe that they come across fake news every day or almost every day. A large majority of respondents think that the existence of fake news is a problem in their country, at least to some extent (85%). Additionally, many Europeans (71%) are at least ‘somewhat confident’ that they are able to identify fake news or disinformation, only 15% say they are very confident. While fake news and disinformation is a problem for several years now, after the breakout of COVID-19, the amount of fake news has increased substantially, creating serious consequences to public health. Some examples can be found in the so-called cures that affected a lot of people and made them harm their elves, such as drinking bleach, eating garlic, wearing warm socks and spreading goose fat on one's chest [Source: http://bit.ly/3euDOfx]. Based on these facts, we can conclude that fake news and disinformation can create several behavioral patterns and affect someone's decisions. In fact, some studies have shown that exposure to fake news can subconsciously alter people’s behavior and affect their decision-making. (Greene & Murphy, 2020), (Bastick, 2021). Those who are more likely to be affected by fake news are adults over 55 years old, as they are less confident in their ability to identify fake news in comparison with younger adults (European Union, 2018).At the same time, European Commission has launched intervention programs such as the #SaferInternet4EU Campaign which are targeted at schools, while many studies show there is a need to target older people (Loos & Nijenhuis, 2020).<< Objectives >>Project Idea / SolutionBreak the chain aims to help adults identify the impact that fake news and disinformation have on their behavior and find ways to alternate the situation. The project will provide a holistic approach, focusing on introducing all the relevant information about fake news and disinformation, their impact on our decisions and ways to detect them.Project Objectives- Raise awareness about intentional disinformation and fake news-Assist adults in detecting and coping with fake news and disinformation online-Enhance adults’ media literacy skills-Support adults educators in developing innovative training approachesProject Target Groups- Direct: Adults (those aged 55+), adult trainers- Indirect: Schools, Training centres, NGOS, policy makers, Research Institutions, journalists<< Implementation >>Project’s objectives-Raise awareness about intentional disinformation and fake news -Assist adults in detecting and coping with fake news and disinformation online -Enhance adults’ media literacy skills -Support adults educators in developing innovative training approachesProject’s results-Adult educators gain new tools for enriching the provision of their training courses-Adults being in place to spot fake news-Adults understand the scope of disinformation and its impact on their behaviour-Adult educators improve their competencies and knowledgeEnvisaged activities: -Identification of the knowledge and skill of adult trainers on the topics of fake news and disinformation and the documentation of their current educational practices on these topics-Identification of the situation of fake news and disinformation in their country and the level of media literacy across their population.-Design of the training methodology and the documentation of desirable learning outcomes will support the elaboration of training material directed to existing knowledge and skills gaps and envisaged training practice.-Development of Manual that will be divided into two parts. In the first part, all relevant information about fake news and disinformation will be presented for assisting trainers to achieve a comprehensive viewpoint on the topic. In the second part of the Manual digital tools and methods will be described for supporting trainers to foster their media competencies and incorporate technology resources into their training programs.-Development of web application containing a pool of activities in the topic of fake news and disinformation, which will send reminders to users for checking the new activities.-Development of a Dynamic Demonstrator presenting real-life scenarios in the topic of fake news and disinformation that will be used as a complementary tool to the learning process.- Set up the Break the Chain Community virtual space to support the project's adopters and practitioners.- Promotion of the Community and the project's outcomes through dedicated multiplier events.-Promotion of the project's activities in the envisaged target group through dedicated dissemination activities.-Implementation of exploitation activities aiming to reach interested parties after the completion of the project.-Development of a webinar for adult trainers.<< Results >>The tangible outcoumes of the project are the following: -A guide for adult trainers aiming to provide innovative approaches in the development of educational activities about fake news and disinformation.-A web application containing several activities about the impact and detection of fake news and disinformation online.-A dynamic demonstrator that will present real-life scenarios of fake news and disinformation, aiming to facilitate the understanding of these concepts and deliver an engaging educational experience.Another tangible result will be the ""Break the chain Community"", a dedicated virtual space that will include all of the project's results and infrastructure to support synchronous (live help, chat, live video assistance, skype, GoToMeeting/webinar) and asynchronous communication (email, online forms channeling tickets to the appropriate persons, forum, FAQ section). The Community will be used by those wanting to use the project's outcomes. The infrastructure will support the project's sustainability by allowing Break the chain learners to be informed about the project’s results after the end of its funded life.The project is also envisaged to have some intangible results, which are the following:-Adult educators gain new tools for enriching the provision of their training courses-Adults being in place to spot fake news-Adults understand the scope of disinformation and its impact on their behavior-Adult educators improve their competencies and knowledge Other outcomes that will be produced during the project are: Other results of the project are:1. Project Management Plan: The coordinator (EduCentrum) will develop a guide for the overall management of the project, including the essential steps for implementation of the project and the financial procedures. 2. Sharing and Promotion Plan: A specific strategy for promoting the project, along with the definition of channels methods and tools will be produced by the sharing and promotion partner (HESO) and will be updated every quarter. Additional dissemination results comprise: - Project’s website-Project’s social media-4 newsletters-4 infographics-2 articles-4 press releases- Project brochure-Project presentation-6 Multiplier events - Backlinks to the project site on the websites of partners3. Graphical identity of the project: the project logo and the design of the promotional material will be defined upon the starting of the project. 4. Webinar: One webinar will be organized for introducing adult trainers on the topic of fake news and disinformation online.5. Exploitation and Outreach Plan: An exploitation plan and relevant indicators will be produced by P3-KOMICHA6. Quality Assurance Plan: ICMEDIA will develop a quality assurance plan and define the quality procedures to be followed during the project implementation and the elaboration of its results7. Validation Plan: E-SENIORS will develop a validation plan for ensuring that the results are addressed to the target groups’ needs and are of high quality."