New self-study course supports staff and students to evaluate online information, recognise misinformation and better understand the influence of algorithms and artificial intelligence.
A new digital media literacy course developed by Munster Technological University (MTU) is now available through the Open Courses catalogue.
Digital Media Literacy: Build the Skills to Question What You See Online is a free, self-directed course for higher education staff and students. Taking approximately two to three hours to complete, the course comprises eight units designed to help learners navigate today’s complex digital information environment with greater confidence.
The course runs across eight short units and takes around three hours to complete. It looks at how misinformation and disinformation spread, how algorithms and media ownership shape what we see, and how to judge whether a source is reliable. It also encourages learners to reflect on their own digital media habits and to make informed decisions about responsible online participation, digital citizenship and wellbeing. Learners who complete the course earn a national recognised digital badge.
Welcoming the course to the catalogue, Colin Lowry, Senior Manager for Teaching and Learning, Enhancement and Digital Innovation at the Higher Education Authority, said:
“As more of what we read and watch comes to us through online platforms, media and digital literacy has become an important part of preparing students for study, work and life. This practical course will help learners to assess online information more critically and to better understand how digital platforms shape what they see. We are delighted to welcome this MTU-developed resource to the Open Courses catalogue and to help bring it to a wider audience across the higher education sector.”
The course was developed at MTU by Dr Catherine Palmer, Michael Costello, Colm O’Rourke and Michelle Power, in collaboration with MTU students and academic and industry partners. Content and guidance were provided by Dr Eileen Culloty, Co-Chair of Media Literacy Ireland, Associate Professor at Dublin City University and Coordinator of EDMO Ireland. Content authoring and design were undertaken by Sarah Pattison, Jeremiah Spillane and Roisin Garvey from MTU’s Department of Technology Enhanced Learning. The project was funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and supported by EDMO Ireland.
The course is free and open to students and staff across the sector. It is also available as an Open Educational Resource, where course teams can embed it in their own systems or adapt it under its open licence. Learners who complete the course can earn a verified digital badge.
Find the course on Open Courses.
