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Explore the MILES Student Toolbox: Free Tools to Build Critical Thinking Skills

03/11/2026
Explore the MILES Student Toolbox: Free Tools to Build Critical Thinking Skills

Good news for future teachers and educators! Our MILES Student Toolbox is now complete and freely available online, bringing practical media literacy resources directly into the classroom.

Throughout the MILES project, we have worked to make critical thinking and media literacy more accessible to young people. Now, we are excited to share one of the key results of this work. Developed with the support of school teachers and tested in educational settings, the Student Toolbox offers activities and learning materials designed to help students engage more critically with the information they encounter every day. The resources cover topics such as social media and algorithms, propaganda and manipulation, bias, fact-checking and debunking. They also introduce students to prebunking techniques, helping them recognise misleading messages before accepting or sharing them.

What makes the Toolbox particularly useful is its connection to different school subjects. Materials are organised into Humanities and Social Sciences, as well as Mathematics, Natural and Applied Sciences, showing that media literacy can be explored well beyond traditional citizenship or media education lessons. Our goal was to create resources that teachers can bring into their existing lessons and adapt to the needs of their students. The Toolbox also encourages learners to ask questions, discuss different perspectives and reflect on how information influences their decisions.

And the best part? The materials are available for free.

We invite teachers, educators and everyone interested in media literacy to explore the Toolbox and discover how it can support more thoughtful and informed learning experiences. Ready to bring media literacy into your classroom? Visit the MILES Student Toolbox, explore the available materials and find activities that fit your students’ needs.

How MILES is helping build a generation resilient to disinformation

From misinformation and manipulation to harmful online content, protecting children in the digital world remains one of Europe’s most pressing challenges. According to the latest Digital Decade 2025 – Special Eurobarometer 566 by the European Commission, 92% of Europeans consider the protection of children online a high priority.

Responding to this growing need, the MILES project has spent the past two years helping educators and students develop the skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex digital environment. Through innovative learning approaches, including gamification, pre-bunking and debunking techniques, MILES has supported schools across Italy, Greece, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Germany, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Belgium and Romania in strengthening digital literacy and critical thinking.

The urgency of this work is reflected in the same Eurobarometer findings, which show that 36% of Europeans are concerned about inaccurate or misleading information online. To address this challenge, MILES has equipped teachers and secondary school students with practical tools to identify, question and challenge disinformation before it spreads.

Throughout 2025 and 2026, project partners engaged local educational communities through meetings, trainings and collaborative activities. More than 700 educators and education stakeholders explored the challenges of misinformation and digital safety, generating over 200 recommendations for creating a safer online environment for children. These proposals will be formally presented in the coming months, contributing to ongoing discussions on digital literacy and child protection across Europe.

Join the conversation shaping the future of digital literacy in EuropeMILES EU EDU-Conference: Against Disinformation — Towards Critical Thinking

On 27 November 2026, educators, policymakers, researchers and civil society representatives from across Europe will come together to reflect on the project’s achievements, exchange insights and discuss the future of media literacy education.Whether you join us in Brussels or online, this conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with experts, discover the project’s findings and contribute to a European dialogue on empowering young people to think critically and stay safe online.

Pre-register now to be among the first to explore MILES’ recommendations and help shape the next steps towards a safer digital future for children.

Learn more about the project: https://miles.erasmusplus.website/ 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them [Project n° 101132716].

Target Groups

Teachers, Students, School leaders, School staff, Academics, Researchers, Policy makers, Public bodies

Education Level

Secondary, Teacher education