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Critical Media Literacy for the Digital Age

Critical Media Literacy explores the evolving landscape of media consumption and the essential skills required to navigate it effectively. Students explore various aspects of media evolution, digital literacy, social media influence, media codes, bias, propaganda, digital marketing, and the future of media and technology. By the end of the course, students will understand how media…

  • Weeks 1 and 2: Understanding Media Evolution. What is Digital and Media Literacy?

    1. Lecture on the evolution of media from generally trusted objective news source to subjective entertainment, underscoring the necessity of skepticism in today’s media landscape
    2. Key Concepts for Media Literacy

  • Weeks 3 and 4: Social Media, Communication Trends and Influence

    1. Discussion on the influence of social media on communication
    2. How do various forms of media influence your thoughts?

  • Weeks 5 and 6: Media Codes and Conventions

    1. Learning about the Hidden Codes and Conventions of Media
    2. Introduction to Subliminal Advertising and the unconscious

  • Weeks 7 and 8: Symbolic Codes and Unconscious Motivation

    1. Exploring introductory psychodynamics and the unconscious mind
    2. Examining how the Symbolic Codes of Media influence our Conscious and Unconscious desires and decision-making  

  • Weeks 9 and 10 – Bias, Propaganda, Sources and Politics

    1. Lesson on how ideas and opinions are shaped by personality, culture, and experience
    2. Learning about the five filters of mass media

  • Weeks 11 and 12 – Digital Marketing, Advertising and News

    1. Study the shift towards targeted advertising and personalized marketing
    2. Considering Marshall McLuhan’s concept, “The medium is the message.”

  • Weeks 13 and 14 – Ethical Considerations in the Digital Age

    1. Predicting upcoming trends in digital media
    2. Exploring the personal and social impact of virtual and augmented reality

  • Weeks 15 and 16 – The Future of Media and Technology

    1. Predict upcoming trends in digital media with a critical analysis
    2. Explore virtual and augmented reality possibilities in media through inductive reasoning

    • Weeks 17 and 18 – Building Critical Media and Digital Skills

      1. Recognize Bias in News sources
      2. Identify Fake News
      3. Fact checking and verifying information
      4. Analyze fake news stories
      5. Explore the impact of fake news on society

    • Weeks 19 and 20 – Fact-Checking Websites

      1. Practice fact-checking using websites like Snopes or FactCheck.org
      2. Analyze a recent news story and fact-check its claims using multiple sources
      3. Discuss the role of fact-checking in combating misinformation

       

    • Weeks 21 and 22 – Data Privacy and Security: Who Can you trust?

      1. Explore how online platforms collect, store, and use personal data
      2. Examine the implications of data breaches and privacy violations
      3. Discover how to protect personal data and privacy online

    • Weeks 23 and 24 – Website and Image Manipulation and Evaluation

      1. Identify the components of a website to determine its credibility
      2. Analyze examples of biased or unreliable websites and identify “red flags”
      3. Practice evaluating website sources and accuracy

    • Weeks 25 and 26 – Social Media Manipulation

      1. Discuss how social media platforms can be used to spread misinformation and manipulate public opinion
      2. Analyze case studies of social media manipulation campaigns and their impact
      3. Explore strategies to assess information shared on social media critically

      • Weeks 27 and 28 – Content Moderation and Censorship

        1. Examine the challenges of content moderation on online platforms
        2. Discuss the ethical considerations of censorship and freedom of speech online
        3. Analyze real-world examples of content moderation decisions and their implications

        • Weeks 29 and 30 – Digital Footprint and Online Reputation

          1. Explore the concept of a digital footprint and its impact on reputation and employability
          2. Discuss ways to manage and curate an online presence responsibly
          3. Analyze case studies of individuals facing the consequences due to their digital footprint

          • Weeks 31 and 32 – Cybersecurity and Online Threats

            1. Learn about common online threats such as phishing, malware, and cyberattacks
            2. Discuss best practices for staying safe online and protecting personal information
            3. Analyze real-world examples of cybersecurity incidents and their consequences