Course Outline

Course Title: Digital Media & Data Literacy for Adults.
Duration: 5 modules, 2 hours each to complete.
Time commitment: 10 hours total.
Delivery Mode: Online, asynchronous. Participants can stop and start as needed.
Credential Earned: Digital micro-credential badge to download upon completion.

Overview

Learning about digital media and data literacy will support course participants in their daily lives as they use, consume, interact with and craft media. In this practical and informative entry-level course, participants will explore an array of topics from a high-level to prepare them to effectively, practically and creatively engage in various online environments. This includes understanding what data and algorithms are and the role they play in content curation. Participants will learn to recognize when information is not fact-checked and gain confidence in their own ability to make decisions regarding personal information. What is learned in this course can be used to support those in local communities such as children, family and friends. Through increased understanding of online environments, data and algorithms, participants will be empowered to engage with the digital environments with more confidence, connect with community and exercise creativity.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand the dynamics of the digital ecosystem and online environments, such as social media, news platforms, and e-commerce.
2. Effectively use a range of digital tools and applications to engage with digital media in various contexts.
3. Critically evaluate online information to determine its credibility and identify potential mis- and disinformation.
4. Make informed decisions regarding online activities based on an understanding of digital rights and responsibilities.
5. Understand the fundamentals of online safety, data privacy, and the handling of personal data by algorithms.
6. Develop skills for creative self-expression using digital media platforms and tools that is socially and ethically responsible.
7. Develop individual empowerment through learning and identifying opportunities for collaboration and thoughtful connection in communities.
8. Recognize issues of inclusion and exclusion within online experiences and content, considering diverse levels of access and representation.

Course Schedule

Module 1: Understanding Digital Ecosystems & Online Environments

1. About digital ecosystems: the tools and systems that are part of a digital ecosystem, the networking that occurs and how that affects individuals.
2. What type of online environments are included in the digital ecosystem, and the notion of ecosystems having varied interests.
3. The connection between understanding digital ecosystems and decision-making.

Module 2: Online Safety, Data & Privacy

1. Defining data and algorithms for the purpose of basic literacy; how they relate and work together.
2. How we knowingly and unknowingly share data; how small bits of information paint a bigger picture.
3. Championing your data footprint through reflection; understanding that content is curated for you and seeking out what you’d really like to know about.

Module 3: Effective Use of Digital Tools, and Creative Self-Expression + Innovation & Discovery, Finding Community

1. What is visible and invisible; browsing and using tools requires producing a trail of data.
2. Reputable, trustworthy sources online; what does a secure, trustworthy website look and feel like; how user experience design is used to gain credibility.
3. Finding and sharing inspiration on the Internet: compelling cases for creativity, finding new-to-you interests and information.
4. Digital tools for exercising creativity and finding community.
5. How data sharing can enable innovation and pooling of research and resources which we can participate in developing or benefit from.
6. Together the Internet and the power of algorithms can help find community based on search practices or curation of content through data collection.

Module 4: Online Content: Mis- and Disinformation

1. Creating content is not that challenging; AI-powered image generation, cheap digital labour and access to graphic design.
2. The difference between self-expression and spreading misinformation or fake news.
3. How mis- and disinformation is generated and spread in Canada; five (5) digital strategies to check if information is true.

Module 5: Inclusion & Exclusion, Community Representation

1. Mindful browsing, consuming and sharing; reflecting on who is excluded from content, what bias is present and why.
2. Digital labour’s role in data and algorithms; sustainability of production and consumption.
3. Understanding the importance of diversity and representation both online and offline.

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Recommended Resource List for Participants:

PAUSE: For parents and families to help create balanced screen use.

The Media Ecosystem Observatory: Reports on the Canadian Information Ecosystem.

Media Smarts: Mostly a youth focus, but excellent Canadian-based research and resources for adults and parents.

Canadian Digital Media Research Network: Report misleading/fake information through the Digital Tipline.

Screen Time, TVO Podcast: reflects on what we know about screen time behaviour and children, building technological literacy.

Media and Information Literacy, UNESCO Podcast: global stories and advice from experts with a focus on online content.

To Protect Freedom of Thought, We Must Commit to Digital Media Literacy: a brief article which underscores the need for this course.