Credits: 3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
This course aims to equip students with concepts and tools necessary to address challenges posed by misinformation in contemporary society, and sociocultural factors that contribute to its spread. Grounded in concepts and practices of library and information science, students will study definitions and distinctions between misinformation, disinformation, bias, and belief, and their impact on public perception and decision-making in both online and in-real-life (IRL) information environments. At the conclusion of the course, students will be prepared to teach others how to become better-informed information seekers, evaluators, and users.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Analyze how information evolves and spreads online.
- Apply theories and frameworks of misinformation to evaluate information and information source trustworthiness.
- Evaluate various forms of misinformation and disinformation across different media platforms, assessing their impact on individual and community perception and decision-making.
- Communicate effectively about misinformation and its implications, using appropriate terminology and concepts to educate diverse audiences.