Course Goals

To introduce you to the theory and practice of the contemporary information, media, and research landscape, including
• Cultural, economic and political factors that affect information and media
• Developing methods for finding information that is relevant to you
• Critically evaluating information and its sources
• Copyright, fair use, and ethical use of information and media
• The role of documentation and citation in scholarly, professional, and public work

Learning Outcomes

1. Course Specific Learning Outcomes

1.1. Evaluate and be critical consumers of information and media
1.2. Use critical thinking and problem solving skills to build an intellectual framework for discovering, using and evaluating information
1.3. Successfully search for and acquire appropriate information about your research topic in a variety of media and formats
1.4. Use information ethically and responsibly with an awareness of copyright and fair use
1.5. Successfully write for a public audience

2. Individual & Society General Education Learning Outcomes

2.1. Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of view
2.2. Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically
2.3. Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support conclusions
2.4. Examine how an individual’s place in society affects experiences, values, or choices
2.5. Articulate and assess ethical views and their underlying premises
2.6. Articulate ethical uses of data and other information resources to respond to problems and questions
2.7. Identify and engage with local, national, or global trends or ideologies, and analyze their impact on individual or collective decision-making