Media Literacy - Preventing Violent Extremism

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We, The Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network (OPCSN), hosted our annual conference on Friday, at John Carroll University. This year's theme was "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding". Faculty, staff, administrators and students joined us from 17 colleges and universities across the state. I presented on media literacy and the impact on conflict. In this post, I will share a sampling of some of the research and resources provided during that session, in hopes of supporting others looking to enhance their own media literacy and those in their realm of influence.

In preparation, I revisited earlier work for League of Women Voter members, in collaboration with Dr. Julie Rouge, formerly of the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution, and referred back to a conference we, Julie and I, hosted together, along with dozens of partners in 2016, “College and University Approaches to Violent Extremism and Youth Recruitment”. What was most striking from that conference, was the biggest threats to the U.S. were internal domestic terrorist organizations. Those organizations’ influence was increasing, due in part, to a lack of media literacy and the rise of digital platforms enabling the violent messages to spread rapidly, frequently unchecked. Present at that conference was the White House Counterterrorism Unit, the FBI, the Department of State, university representatives, and a specialist from the Southern Poverty Law Center on this topic, Dr. Heidi Beirich, now of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

Heidi’s most recent interview aired today on National Public Radio (NPR), during which she discussed the normalization of white nationalist social media materials, memes and slogans. This topic is of increasing importance as more and more individuals solely rely on social media, influenced by algorithms, echo chambers, bots, the spread of fake news and individuals’ tendency toward confirmation bias.

Sample Resources:

  • A helpful resource for teaching students about the digital media landscape, in order to help keep them safe and find valid sources, is the Digital Literacy Framework which includes age appropriate videos and lesson plans.

  • A helpful tool for considering Media Bias, is the interactive Adfontes Media Bias Chart.

  • A tool I assigned to college students early on in the semester, is the SMELL test, to begin to help them critically consider the sources they are using. Scroll down on this page for the SMELL Test.

  • A tool for reverse image search is Tineye.com

  • A popular news fact checking site is snopes.com

  • A game to play in classes and/or individually, is Clemson University’s Spot the Troll game. This on-line game uses actual fake and real accounts to test your accuracy of being able to tell which is a fake account.

Join GPPAC PEWG Feb. 25th 8 - 9AM EST for "Exploring Innovative Technology for Peacebuilding"

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This presentation, hosted by the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict’s Peace Education Working Group (PEWG), will review some of the history of technology being used to enhance conflict resolution and prevent deadly conflict. We’ll look specifically at the evolution of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) tools and techniques which seek to maintain neutrality, as well as exploring other various forms of “info-activism,” civic engagement practices, and “peace tech” that have explicit biases promoting peace, mutual well-being and protection of those endangered by conflicts. While not promising any clear predictions in a time of rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI), we’ll also consider some areas where AI may be put to good use in the pursuit of nonviolence and peace.

Zoom Registration for the Session (Deadline Feb. 23rd)
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/hqmoBOaMSBWh0UzShh41gw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Presenter: Bill Warters, Ph.D., is a Quaker with a lifelong interest in peacemaking and conflict resolution. He is a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project of Michigan, offering multi-day workshops in Michigan prisons and communities. He got his undergraduate degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and his PhD in affiliation with the Program on the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts at Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. While at Syracuse, Bill received a distinguished Guggenheim Research Fellowship for his work on ending men's violence toward women. Prior to his retirement, Dr. Warters was Director of the Master of Arts in Dispute Resolution program at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Prior to moving to Michigan, Bill was a faculty member and Director of the PhD program in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Bill is author of the book Mediation in the Campus Community: Designing and Managing Effective Programs with Jossey Bass Press. He was the developer of two federally-funded web clearinghouses for conflict resolvers working in educational settings, the most recent being CREducation.net. He has an online portfolio highlighting some of the many conflict resolution and technology projects he developed, visible at campus-adr.net.

Philippines: Peace Education K-12 & Higher Education

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I had the opportunity to interview a fellow GPPAC member and educator, Dr. Gail Galang of the Center for Peace Education, Miriam College, Philippines. My interest was to learn more about the longstanding work happening in peace education at the primary, secondary and higher education levels in the country, as well as more about any related policies or recommendations at the governmental and/or through educational institutions. While most countries have some form of legislation related to peace or conflict management related education (though the name/title varies by country and political changes), few have related legislation at the higher education level.

In addition to the interview, I wrote a brief summarizing some of the policies and related supports in place. Dr. Gail Galang & Dr. Loreta Castro, longtime GPPAC Member and lifelong peace educator and founder of the Peace Center at Miriam College, shared related documents, policies and their insights on what has been helpful in the country over their collective decades of work. Both also shared important contextual considerations.

The brief focuses on peace education legislation in the Philippines, built on the Presidential Executive Order (EO) 570: Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic and Teacher Education and the more recent focus on peace education in higher education institutions (HEI) in general (Office of the President of the Philippines, 2006).  These latter policies include the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 1, series of 2019 on the integration of Peace Studies/Education into the Relevant Higher Education Curriculum and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 42, series of 2021 – Suggested Guiding Principles and Practices on Peace Education/Studies for Higher Education Institutions (CHED, 2019; CHED, 2021).

Throughout 2026, I will be highlighting the work of a different country and the peace educators supporting this work at scale in their countries and regions. This series of peace education briefs focus on country-wide regulations or recommendations supporting the implementation of peace education for students in primary, secondary, and/or higher education both in formal and informal settings, highlighting work of Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Peace Education Working Group members. We hope you will be inspired and will consider connecting with us, sharing related work happening in your region! Simply scroll down on the “About Us” page to listen to the interview or access the brief.

Workshop - "Bridging the Divide: Skills for Building Community & Addressing Challenges" Jan. 29th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm EST Jean Hower Taber Student Union

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Looking forward to presenting this session for the University of Akron’s Bridges to Understanding Festival (Jan. 25 - 29th)

Ever leave a tense conversation wishing you’d handled it better? This interactive workshop gives you practical ways to de-escalate conflict, communicate what you need, and understand what other people need even when they can’t say it clearly. Expect hands-on practice you can use in classes, group projects, work, and real life.

In this workshop you will learn how to de-escalate difficult situations and bring people together in a community to develop collaborative effective solutions to challenging issues. Participants will practice identifying what other people actually need to move forward even when they aren’t saying it, articulating what you need in way that makes difficult people responsive, manage high emotions, and developing solutions that get implemented because they integrate the needs of everyone involved.

To register for the session and to learn more about the week at the University of Akron, click here.

Apply by Feb. 6 - Free 6-week online course: Building resilience and safety in a digital and conflict-prone world

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GPPAC’s Peace Education Working Group invites educators, youth practitioners, and peacebuilding professionals to apply for a highly interactive 6-week online course focused on resilience, dialogue, and critical thinking in today’s digital and conflict-affected contexts.

Running from 17 February to 10 March 2026, the online course combines practical tools, reflection, and peer learning to strengthen participants’ capacity to prevent digital violence, address media manipulation, and foster safe, inclusive learning environments. Participation is limited to 25 participants to ensure a meaningful and interactive learning experience.

Facilitators: GPPAC Peace Education Working Group Members - Tatjana Popovic, Nansen Dialogue Network & Biljana Lajovic, Ret. Ministry of Education Serbia & Nansen Dialogue Network

Description and overview:

This 6-week course is designed to develop and strengthen the capacities of formal and informal educators, youth practitioners, and peacebuilding professionals. It equips participants with practical skills and knowledge to protect themselves and others from digital violence in conflict-prone and digitally complex environments.

Participants are expected to transfer the acquired skills, knowledge, and practical tools to their students, colleagues, and broader communities. The course supports participants in applying these competencies in both their personal and professional lives, contributing to safer behaviour online, in schools, and in broader society. 

Participants who attend all sessions and actively participate will receive a certificate of completion from the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

View the complete course information on the GPPAC Web site here.

To apply to be considered for the course, click here.

(Regis. Deadline Feb. 3) OPCSN Conference: "Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding" 2026 Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network Conference!

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Join us for the annual Ohio Peace and Conflict Studies Network (OPCSN) Conference which will take place Feb. 13th, 9:30 - 4:30 PM at John Carroll University. (Deadline to register, Feb. 3) Register Here.   Cost: Ohio College Students ($10); Ohio Faculty/Staff/Admin ($25); Others ($35)

Hosted by: John Carroll University’s Tuohy Center for Interreligious Understanding; Peace, Justice & Human Rights Program; Center for Service Learning & Social Action, and their office of Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center, & Community Campus Coalition.

Partners: The Ohio State University, Divided Communities Project & University of Akron’s Center for Conflict Management

Download the detailed agenda here.

9:30 - 10:30 AM   Welcome Networking & Program/Research Posters - Join us to connect with colleagues and learn about other programs.  Learn about research and projects that faculty, staff, administrators and students are working on in the field.

 10:30 - 11:40AM  Welcome & Opening Panel: Strengthening Democracy through Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding. Panelists:  Carl Smallwood, Executive Director, Divided Community Project (DCP), Moritz College of Law; Ashley Nickels, Growing Democracy Project & Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies; John Crowley-Buck, Director, Arrupe Social Justice Scholars Program, John Carroll University Moderator: Jen Batton, Conflict Management Training Instructor, Center for Conflict Management, University of Akron

11:45 - 1:15PM Lunch & OPCSN Members Networking Luncheon

1:15 - 2:45PM Workshops (Select 1 of 4)

Workshop 1 (PANEL format): Examples of Experiential Learning & Service Learning: Integrating Community Peacebuilding into the Curriculum

A. The role of student leadership in service-learning and civic engagement

Panelist: Heather Craigie, Associate Director, Center for Service Learning and Social Action, John Carroll University

B. Strategies for Effective Community-Engaged Teaching Examining Conflict in the Community

Panelist: Andrea Meluch, Associate Professor, School of Communication, The University of Akron

C. Connecting Town and Gown through Experiential Learning

Panelist: Stacey Nofziger, Professor, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Sociology, University of Akron

Workshop 2 (PANEL format): Creating the Conditions for Positive Change – Media Literacy Tools & Student Led Examples from Advocacy to Use of New Media Formats (Podcasts, Substack & Video)

A. Constructive Conversations: Finding valid information and how to use it

Panelist: Jen Batton, Conflict Management Training Instructor, Center for Conflict Management, University of Akron

B. Voices of Unity: Student-Led Advocacy for Positive Change, Mount Union’s Friend’s Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) Delegation

Panelist: Emily Krizner, Student, University of Mount Union; Emily Denney, Student, University of Mount Union

B. Modeling Civic Dialogue on New Media (Podcasts, Substack & User Created Video) Platforms

Panelist: Mark Harris, Student, Master of Applied Politics & TA, Roy Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, University of Akron

Workshop 3 (INTERACTIVE Format): Fishbowl Style Dialogue: Teaching Peace Under Senate Bill 1

Facilitators: Johanna Solomon, Assistant Professor, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, Kent State University (KSU); Ashley Nickels, Associate Professor, School of Peace and Conflict Studies, KSU

Workshop 4 (INTERACTIVE format) Part 1: Sustained Dialogue at Work (**This is part 1 of 2, this is a 3-hour session)

Facilitators: Calloway Kusold, Coordinator for Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Lysette Roman J.D., John Carroll University Wellness Center Coordinator

3:00 - 4:00 PM Workshops (Select 1 of 4)

Workshop 5 (PANEL format): Peace Pedagogy, Theory & Study Abroad Application

 A. Teaching Peace as a Matter of Justice

Panelist: Dale Snauwaert, Professor, University of Toledo

B. Critical Peace Theory

Panelist: Bryan Mullins, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Central State University

C. John Carroll's Ireland Peacebuilding Program: Immersive Encounters in Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland and the Lessons Students Bring Home

Panelist: Phil Metres, Director, Peace, Justice and Human Rights Program, Professor, Department of English

Workshop 6 (INTERACTIVE format): Game-Based Dialogue and Bridgebuilding: The Breaking Bread Series Model

Facilitators: Semiha Topal, Program Manager, Tuohy Center for Interreligious Understanding at John Carroll University; JCU Students - Cooper Eberly, Rasmia Alnadi, Faith Berner, Arthus Azais de Vergenon, Lea Kanbar, Olivia Ziccardi

Workshop 7 (INTERACTIVE Format): Growing Democracy: Organizing & Nonviolent Action

Presenters: Ashley Nickels, Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies; Sara Koopman, Associate Professor, Kent State University, School of Peace and Conflict Studies

Workshop 8 (INTERACTIVE format): Part 2: Sustained Dialogue (SD) at Work (**This is part 2 of 2, this is a 3-hour session)

Facilitators: Calloway Kusold, Coordinator for Student Experience & Campus Belonging; Lysette Roman J.D., John Carroll University Wellness Center Coordinator

Join us for the 50th Anniversary of Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center

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Join us at Wilmington College for the Peace Resource Center's 50th anniversary celebration (09/29-10/1) events which focus on the human toll of nuclear weapons starting with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. The symposium and conference, which brings together speakers, scholars, artists, and nuclear abolition advocates from around the United States and the world, is free and open to the public. Access the details here:

  • Symposium. Practicing Art, Practicing Nuclear Abolition: The Westheimer Peace Symposium (September 29-30, 2025)

  • Performance. “Borrowed Landscape” (September 30, 2025, 7:00 p.m., Murphy Theatre)

  • Conference. Archives as Witness: Preserving History, Memory, and Art at the Peace Resource Center (September 30-October 1, 2025)

Sept. 11, 2025 New Federal and State Budgets: How They Will Impact You

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 Batton designed and facilitated a community event on behalf of the League of Women Voters, to explore how the new budgets would impact the community, specifically Summit County, around healthcare, food security and public safety.  In addition to speakers from the county responsible for healthcare, public safety and food security, there was an opportunity for community members who want to help, to connect with agencies that do related work, including, but not limited to, Meals on Wheels, Food Banks, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Grace House, United Disability Services and Asian Services in Action. Read more here.

Join us throughout September 2022 for GPPAC Learning Month!

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Throughout September, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) and Conflict Education Consultant members of the Peace Education Working Group, will be providing free on-line sessions to learn from and with each other, to make our collective peacebuilding action stronger, more visible, and accessible! GPPAC members and interested stakeholders are invited to participate in online cross-regional learning sessions organised by GPPAC peacebuilders! During these sessions, you can explore and discuss various subjects and get to know other GPPAC members in a safe and informal setting. Check out the options here

Conflict Education Consultants Launches New 2020 GPPAC/UNESCO Good Practice Guidance for Peace Education

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This free series will highlight Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict's Peace Education Working Group experts from around the world and the good practices in the UNESCO – IIEP policy booklets, “Safety, Resilience and Social Cohesion: A Guide for Curriculum Developers” (Batton, J., Alama A., Sinclair, M. (2014) with additional resources provided. Read more here:

https://www.gppac.net/news/launching-our-new-peace-education-webinar-series 

Jennifer Batton of Conflict Education Consultants to facilitate workshop during the All In Student Academy at Cleveland State University

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On February 27th,  Conflict Education Consultants will facilitate workshops on  Stories from the Field:  Skills Needed by Local & Global Changemakers  for  8th to 10th grade students during the All In Student Academy hosted by the Educational Service Center at Cleveland State University.  The All In Student Academy is a student-based series focused on social justice and activism. A teacher coordinator from each school building works with students throughout the year to support student learning and activism throughout the duration of the academy.  The program aims to "promote awareness and appreciation for ALL students regardless of their diverse learning needs, economic status, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, cultural background, etc.  Throughout the three face-to-face sessions, participants identify, explore, and move beyond personal perceptions and biases to develop their own voices.  Students learn skills that positively impact their community and ensure equity and inclusiveness for ALL students.

New Report Available - Peace Education Making the Case from the Quaker Council for European Affairs!

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Jennifer Batton of Conflict Education Consultants is honored to be one of the individuals who provided feedback on this new free report, representing the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict. This publication shows how peace education has responded to difficult political contexts over the decades and demonstrates that peace education is relevant to conflict prevention and peacebuilding today. http://www.qcea.org/peace/peace-education/