Navigating Info Ecosystems

Catalog description

Integral transdisciplinary research involves locating and assessing information from a range of sources. Yet our current information ecosystem is, for better and for worse, rife with contested notions of truth, knowledge, and the proper methods for deriving an "accurate" picture of the world. The complexities of this landscape can be a source of excitement, but also lead to confusion and anxiety, especially when misinformation, bad-faith actors, and AI are factored into the equation. This course provides students with tools and knowledge for understanding and navigating this information ecosystem. Particular attention will be paid to the production of academic knowledge, as well as searching a range of databases and skillfully reading the sources found there. Students will also develop key skills in critical media literacy and explore information sources outside of the academic mainstream. RESTRICTED TO TSD STUDENTS