UNS — Lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, from the Strategic Communication Research Group, organizes an Anti-Hoax Traning for Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School in Indonesia) in Solo and its surrounding region. Bringing up the theme on ‘Fact-Checking and Digital Hygiene: Strengthening Digital Literacy in Pesantren as an Effort to Create Smart Society Against Hoax’, this training is funded through Community Engagement Program Grants (PKM). The Head of PKM Grants, Dr. Andre Rahmanto states that 19 participants are representing Pesantren in Solo, on August 29th, 2020.
The training held in Best Western Solo Baru aims to give provision for boarding school managers to have better digital literacy competencies. “Hopefully, after following this event, the participants will be more critical, no longer become the consumers and spreaders of hoaxes or any forms of disinformation and misinformation. For this reason, in this training, participants are trained to use the method of checking the truth of information (fact-checking) through various tools,” Dr. Andre explains.
The training was started with an explanation of the need for digital literacy in Pesantren, as well as the optimization of social media in managing Pesantren. The discussion is followed by technical training in fact-checking and digital hygiene. “Participants are given technical training, thus they can directly practicing to check whether it is hoax information or not. That way they will have more ability to select information,” Dr. Andre adds.
Until the end of the session, the participants are following the program materials enthusiastically and are committed to applying the knowledge the earned. Furthermore, they will become digital literacy agents who can provide insight into their closest environment. Other than fact-checking, this PKM program will be followed-up with a preparation of a digital literacy module for pesantren circles as well as assistance to several pesantren. Humas UNS
Reporter: Dwi Hastuti
