Digital Judgement

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

In today's world, the rapid evolution of digital media, the internet, and social networking brings constant change. Developments in information and communications technologies radically shape and reshape the ways in which we work, socialise, learn, communicate, spend our leisure time, and generally manage our daily lives, although the effects are not the same for all people across the globe. Social, political, educational and economic inequalities, which amplify the "digital divide," mean that the benefits and advantages of digital technologies are not equally shared by all. The changes in our information landscape have also altered our understanding of "literacy", as information is presented in new and dynamic formats, which require new forms of interpretation. What does it mean to be "literate" in the 21st century? How can we effectively navigate this new digital landscape and tell if the information we see can be believed and trusted?An essential skill today is the ability to identify high quality and trustworthy digital information that servesour needs in different situations. Recent worldwide events have clearly demonstrated the importance of distinguishing true from false information. However, the knowledge and skills required to find and evaluate digital information that we consume online through search engines, websites and apps are not innate or automatic -they must be learned. In this module, you will learn to act as savvy digital judges, exploring the world of digital information and social media, to empower you to identify, access, evaluate, use, create and share trustworthy digital information in personal, professional, and academic contexts. We will also consider the ways in which digital and social media are transforming the world, through exploring topical issues such as "fake news," search personalisation and algorithms, online privacy, personal reputation management and digital footprints, in order to understand the potential consequences of your online activities.