Boost Your Digital Literacy and Online Search Skills
Increase your critical thinking skills and learn hands-on strategies for online searching techniques, to be more digitally literate when it comes to finding trusted sources on the internet.
Interested in attending any future dates of this course?
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Description
This course will empower participants to be more digitally literate when it comes to finding trusted sources on the internet. Participants will increase their critical thinking skills and learn hands-on strategies when it comes to online searching techniques, identifying sources of credible information, recognising bias, using verification and fact checking tools such as reverse searches of websites and images. Understanding aspects such as filter bubbles, echo chambers and algorithmic bias will also be discussed.
Course outline
The half day workshop will begin by defining digital literacy and identifying the issues in trying to source and verify authentic information such as filters, algorithms, bots and visual manipulation.
A series of hands-on exercises will cover the following:
- How to conduct online searches using key words and search engine help features
- Finding primary sources using examples through Wikipedia
- Learning to read laterally to understand your own biases and emotional responses
- Recognising disinformation, fake news etc
- Conducting reverse searches
Expected learning outcomes
- Confidently conduct online searches
- Check the credibility of sources
- Read laterally across sources to understand your own biases and emotional responses that affect your decision making
- Fact check websites and conduct reverse searches to authenticate
Who should attend?
People wishing to develop their research skills for assignments and projects, where they can access and authenticate sources of information; Anyone wishing to improve their critical thinking and digital literacy skills.
What to bring
Just a pen for note-taking. Your tutor will provide resources. This course will be held in a PC suite at Selwyn College - it is not necessary to bring your own device.
About your tutor, Dr Philippa Smith
I have a PhD in communication and language and am passionate about improving digital literacy in a world swamped with information online. I was an Associate Professor at Auckland University of Technology teaching critical media studies including analysis of new media texts, before working as an independent consultant to assist people navigate the vagaries of the internet.
