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Disinformation, Misinformation, and Fake News Teach-Out

Improve your media literacy skills and learn how to identify misinformation and spot fake news in the 21st century.

4,583 enrolled on this course

  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    2 hours
  • Digital upgrade

    Free

Learn how to critically engage with media sources and combat disinformation

This Teach-Out course will develop your understanding of your understanding of the sources of misleading and false information in the mass media, and help you learn to critically consume media and information.

Learn what drives fake news

We live in an era where information can be transmitted around the world at the click of a button – whether it’s factually correct or not.

The information landscape is massive and complex. Misinformation - unintentionally false information – and disinformation – intentionally false information – play a large role in shaping public beliefs on important subjects like politics, science, healthcare, and current affairs.

This learning experience will help you to better understand how false information arises and impacts 21st century society.

You’ll learn how it can influence the way people perceive and interact with other people who hold different personal opinions, life experiences, and cultures.

Build your critical literacy skills

This landscape of modern mass media means that many are increasingly relying on social media and unverified news sites for their news information.

This landscape of modern mass media means that many are increasingly relying on social media and unverified news sites for their news information.

Alongside experts from the University of Michigan and beyond, you’ll develop your understanding of today’s information landscape and learn how to build vital skills in media literacy so that you’re able to confidently consume and relay factual information.

What topics will you cover?

  • Disinformation and misinformation
  • Fake News
  • Media Literacy
  • Psychology of Processing Information

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explore the history of terms and concepts like “disinformation,” “misinformation” and “fake news”
  • Identify different types of disinformation and how it's transmitted and received
  • Evaluate your own habits of media consumption and reactions when presented with novel information
  • Develop strategies to combat disinformation in your own life

Who is the course for?

This Teach-Out is designed for anyone interested in learning about how disinformation, misinformation, and fake news shape the modern information landscape and how to combat it in their own lives.

Who will you learn with?

University of Michigan Teach-Out Experts

Who developed the course?

University of Michigan

As the #1 public research university in the United States, U-M has been a leader in research, learning, and teaching for more than 200 years, with 102 Grad programs in the top 10 — U.S. News & World Report (2019).

  • Established

    1817
  • Location

    Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  • World ranking

    Top 30Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

What's included?

University of Michigan are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
  • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

    Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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    Get a taste of this course

    Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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