Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

The seminar is an interactive teaching methodology that involves research, discussion, and presentation of a specific topic. It allows for an in-depth exploration of a subject, with the advantage of activating a series of skills such as public speaking, organization, research, and teamwork.

Traditionally, seminars are divided into three parts: preparation, presentation, and discussion. In the preparation phase, students conduct research on the defined topic and organize the presentation. During the presentation, the group shares their findings with the class. In the discussion phase, the class and the teacher ask questions and exchange ideas about the topic presented.

Seminars are also excellent platforms for the development of socio-emotional skills, such as empathy, resilience, time management, and communication. The seminar requires students to put themselves in others' shoes to understand different perspectives, deal with the pressure of the presentation, manage preparation time, and present their ideas clearly and convincingly.

Contextualization

Seminars are widely used in academic contexts around the world, being a useful tool to deepen knowledge in a specific area and to develop discussion and debate skills. Moreover, they are an excellent way to learn how to formulate arguments and defend points of view.

However, seminars also have applications beyond school. They are a tool used in professional conferences, company training, and even in informal discussion groups. Knowing how to conduct and participate in a seminar is a useful skill in many areas of life, from professional careers to civic engagement.

Activity

Activity Title: "Yesterday's News" Seminar

Project Objective

The objective of this project is for students to organize and present a seminar on the theme "Yesterday's News." The seminar should address a recent and significant news or event chosen by the group, which has been reported in various media outlets. The group should collect and compare different versions of the same news, analyze how the news was presented, and fact-check each report. Students should also plan and conduct an interview with a person connected to the reported event or an expert in the field.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 participants. Each group must select an important news or event that occurred in the week prior to the project execution week. After choosing the news, students should research different reports of the same news in various media outlets, both print and digital, including newspapers, news websites, and television journalism.

Groups should analyze the differences and similarities in how the news was portrayed in each media outlet and fact-check using fact-checking services. Additionally, they should plan and conduct an interview (which can be online) with someone directly related to the reported event or an expert in the field.

Required Materials

• Access to print and digital newspapers;
• Access to news websites;
• Access to a fact-checking service;
• Means to conduct and record an interview (a computer with a camera and microphone, for example).

Step-by-Step

1. After forming the groups, each group must choose a recent news or event to be the seminar's theme.

2. Students should research different reports of this news in various media outlets and gather information on how the news was presented in each outlet.

3. Each group must fact-check the reported facts using available fact-checking services.

4. Based on the research conducted, the group should plan and conduct an interview with a person connected to the reported event or an expert in the field.

5. The group should prepare a presentation for the seminar, integrating the collected information, the analysis of differences in news reports, the results of fact-checking, and the conducted interview.

6. Finally, the group should present the seminar to the class and respond to questions and comments.

Project Deliverables

After the seminar presentation, students must prepare a written report detailing the project and its conclusions. The report should include:

• Introduction: The group should contextualize the chosen news, explain why it is important, and what the project's objectives were.
• Development: The group should detail the research, analysis, and fact-checking process, as well as the methodology used for the interview. They should discuss the differences found in the news reports and the implications of these differences. The interview transcription or main ideas should be included in this section.
• Conclusions: The group should summarize the main points discussed in their presentation and indicate the learnings obtained during the project.
• Bibliography: The group should indicate the sources used for research and fact-checking.

The project has an approximate duration of 2 to 4 hours per student, with a one-week deadline from the start date.