Day of AI Australia and UNSW launch free national lesson and competition

As Australian students navigate an increasingly complex digital world, a new collaboration between Day of AI Australia and UNSW Sydney, is set to equip high school students with the critical skills needed to identify and understand AI-generated misinformation.

Today, the organisations launched Media Literacy in the Age of AI, a free educational lesson and an innovative national competition called 'Win the Farm'.

The initiative tackles one of the most pressing challenges of the modern era: the rise of sophisticated misinformation and disinformation powered by Artificial Intelligence.

Using the allegorical framework of George Orwell's Animal Farm, the program challenges students in Years 7-10 to think critically about how information is used to influence opinion, build power, and shape narratives.

In the 'Win the Farm' game, students are immersed in the story just after the pig Snowball has been exiled, leaving the tyrannical Napoleon poised to take over. An election is called, and students are tasked with supporting either Napoleon or a new challenger, Hetty the hen.

Students design an AI bots campaign strategy, setting the bot’s personality, content focus, and core tactics, to persuade the other animal citizens and win the election.

“The game provides a terrific opportunity to assist students to move from being passive to critically reflective AI users, which is absolutely essential for responding to the prevalence of AI in our society,” said Professor Michael Dezuanni, Chair of the Australian Media Literacy Alliance.

The project is launching ahead of Media Literacy Week (27-31 October) and provides teachers with a free, curriculum-aligned resource to facilitate these crucial classroom conversations.

Day of AI Australia, which provides free and accessible AI curriculum to schools nationwide, will host the lesson and competition on its platform.

Media Literacy in the Age of AI

"Teachers are looking for engaging ways to teach complex topics, and 'Win the Farm' delivers exactly that," said Natasha Banks, Program Director for Day of AI Australia.

"It connects a classic text with a cutting-edge issue, allowing students to explore ethics, persuasion, and technology in a safe, innovative and highly relevant way."

Dr Jake Renzella from UNSW said: “During defining global events like elections, AI-generated bot activity on social media and the internet overwhelms the narrative.

"Tens of thousands of accounts shape how events are perceived. 'Win the Farm' is a crucial first-step in ensuring young Aussies everywhere are not only aware of how these technologies can be used against them, but puts them in the driver seat to truly experience it, and protect themselves in the future."

The Media Literacy in the Age of AI lesson plan and registration for the 'Win the Farm' national competition are now available for all Australian teachers. Teachers should deliver the lesson during Media Literacy Week which runs 27-31 October in all states and territories.

“Day of AI Australia is empowering students to move beyond simply using AI to actually understanding and building important skills, which helps demystify the technology for students,” said Marie Efstathiou from Google.org.

“We're supporting these programs because they give students and teachers the tools to be savvy, critical thinkers which is a crucial investment for Australia's digital future.”

The new Media Literacy lesson and 'Win the Farm' was developed by Day of AI Australia and UNSW Sydney with support from Google.org, together with Australian Media Literacy Alliance, ABC Education, UNSW AI Institute and UNSW IFCyber.

For more information and to access the resources, visit dayofaiaustralia.com.