Workshop 

Playing Misinformation Escape Room and Co-designing Debrief Materials

How can libraries support information literacy and misinformation education through games? At Loki’s Loop, a research team at University of Washington Information School, we use escape rooms which are immersive and collaborative experiences — perfectly suited for people to experience an information environment that is becoming more complex with AI, advanced algorithms, and other tactics designed to mislead and pull societies apart. Libraries are offering our games as a social program to foster collective sensemaking and develop community-based responses to the challenges posed by these technologies and tactics.

In this session, participants will play one of our misinformation escape rooms, learn how libraries have implemented the games in different parts of the world, and help shape ideas for future activities. We will also share information about our codesign and localization activities so that participants can indicate if they are interested in localizing any of our games for their country or want to create a new game. After playing the game, we will participate in a co-design session where collectively we will brainstorm and design debrief discussion questions and activities that can accompany the gameplay and reinforce the learning experience. 

Host 

Jin Ha Lee is a Professor and the Founding Director of the GAMER (GAME Research) Group at the University of Washington Information School. Her research focuses on methods for organizing and accessing popular music, multimedia, and interactive media, as well as understanding user behavior in media creation and consumption. She also explores the use of popular media for informal learning in libraries and museums. Recently, her work has centered on designing games and play-based activities, such as escape rooms and Minecraft mazes, to enhance public understanding of misinformation and develop strategies for navigating the complex information ecosystem.

Scott DeJong studies and makes games about information systems. Finalizing his PhD in Communication at Concordia University in Montreal, Scott’s work studies the tactics and strategies behind media manipulation (i.e. misinformation) and builds tools to teach, research, and build policy insights around it. His research has received numerous awards, including a Fulbright, and his design work got international recognition being played with embassies, militaries, governments, and schools around the globe. Scott has built games looking at themes of social media systems, information pipelines, ethical AI use, and media spin, and has conducted research on class precarity in games, extremism in videogames, and polarization in Canada. In his free time Scott is an avid baker, holds a strong appreciation for puffins, and is trying to learn pottery.