The Investigators
Students become school news reporters on a quest for facts. Three investigative scenarios teach critical thinking, source evaluation, and information literacy in a world shaped by misinformation.
Play on Minecraft Education →Fighting Misinformation Through Play
In a world shaped by information, bias, and persuasion — how can we ensure young people make informed decisions? Microsoft's Technology for Fundamental Rights team partnered with leading media literacy experts from the Digital Inquiry Group (led by Dr. Sam Wineburg and Dr. Joel Breakstone) to tackle this challenge.
The goal: create an engaging Minecraft world where students practice real investigative journalism skills — evaluating sources, spotting bias, and distinguishing fact from manipulation.
See It in Action
Three Investigative Scenarios
Poor Sustainability Rating
The school's sustainability rating has dropped. Everyone has a theory. Students investigate each claim, weigh evidence, and discover what really affects sustainability.
New School Sport Vote
A heated debate over adding a new school sport. Students try out different activities, listen to supporters' arguments, and uncover hidden agendas and real motives.
Cyber Bullying Mystery
Students unravel a mystery surrounding the Class Presidential Election. They investigate means, motives, and digital evidence to uncover apparent cyber bullying.
Inside the Investigation
Empowering Critical Thinkers
The Investigators addresses comprehensive information literacy standards, teaching students to assess information efficiently, evaluate it critically, and use it creatively. The world is designed for the widest possible age range — from 8 to 18 — making it useful across primary and secondary education.
Supporting resources developed with the Digital Inquiry Group include an Educator Guide, formative assessments, follow-up lesson plans, and presentation slides — everything a teacher needs to run a complete media literacy unit.
Learning Objectives & Curriculum
Learning Objectives
- Identify reliable vs unreliable sources of information
- Understand bias, perspective, and media manipulation
- Apply lateral reading techniques
- Develop investigative journalism skills
Curriculum Links
- Digital Literacy & Media Literacy (Grades 3-12)
- Reading & Writing standards
- Information literacy frameworks
- Developed with Stanford's Digital Inquiry Group
Skills Developed
- Critical thinking and source evaluation
- Communication and collaboration
- Digital citizenship
- Evidence-based reasoning
In the Media
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