Comparison as a Basis for Tackling Mis(ing)information

The Miss_I Project

Abstract

The Miss_I project is a collaborative teaching and learning initiative to engage students and international experts in critical discussions on global educational systems. The project fosters an analytical approach to digital information accuracy, highlighting gaps, particularly concerning non-Western countries. By involving experts, students explore hidden mechanisms behind globally imbalanced knowledge availability. This paper presents the practical implementation of Miss_I within a bachelor-level seminar, primarily attended by second-semester teacher training students. The seminar has six phases: preparatory work, independent student research, expert-student exchanges, comparative discussions, and a final reflection. The Miss_I project is grounded in four theoretical perspectives: (1) the “learning to see” approach, which fosters intercultural understanding; (2) international comparative educational research, promoting knowledge expansion beyond Western paradigms; (3) geopolitics of comparative knowledge production, critiquing the dominance of Global North epistemologies; and (4) intercultural sensitivity and inclusive pedagogy, preparing future educators to embrace cultural diversity in teaching practices. By integrating these perspectives, Miss_I equips teacher-training students with the critical tools to analyze educational systems beyond their familiar contexts, challenging knowledge hierarchies and fostering intercultural competency. The project exemplifies an innovative approach to internationalization at home, preparing educators for a globally interconnected academic landscape.