We are bombarded with information every day. It comes at us from all directions—from our social media feeds, traditional news outlets, advertisements and commercials, assigned readings in college courses, and from friends and family members. This is a regular part of daily life in the “information age,” but it can be difficult to make sense of so much information coming at us from different directions. How do we know what information to trust, and what information is “fake or fiction”? In what ways do our own beliefs and perceptions shape how we use information? How can we identify the most reliable sources of information in our courses, careers, and daily lives? In this course, students develop strategies for locating credible information; evaluate a variety of sources for credibility; learn how cognitive bias may influence how information is perceived; practice giving proper credit to the sources of the information; and learn how to apply these information literacy skills in their academic courses, career, and personal life.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO 1 Access information from diverse sources.
CO 2 Evaluate information and media sources critically.
CO 3 Explain how cognitive biases can impact the ability to learn new information.
CO 4 Examine the use of information and the consequences that result from its misuse.
CO 5 Apply information and media literacy skills to professional and personal situations.
CO 6 Produce work that accurately credits the words and ideas of others.
CO 7 Explain ethical and effective use of generative AI.
You will need the following materials to complete your coursework. Some course materials may be free, open source, or available from other providers. You can access free or open-source materials by clicking the links provided below or in the module details documents. Please visit the following website to purchase course materials: University's textbook supplier
Fact, Fiction, or Fake? Information Literacy Today is a 3-credit, online course consisting of 7 modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
You are required to participate in the following for formal work in the course:
See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this Plagiarism Detection Tool Google document.
You are required to complete 6 discussion forums. The discussion forums are on a variety of topics based on the course modules.
Communication with your mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online class discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and at least two subsequent comments on classmates' responses.
All of these responses must be substantial. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate or your mentor, state and support your position.
You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation, including your use of relevant course information to support your point of view, and your awareness of and responses to the postings of your classmates. Remember, these are discussions: responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, mature, and respectful.
You are required to complete 7 written assignments. The written assignments are on a variety of topics based on the course modules.
You are required to complete 6 quizzes, one in each module. The quizzes consist of multiple-choice or true/false questions and are open book, untimed, and unproctored. You are encouraged to take each quiz multiple times for additional practice; you will see some different questions each time. Your highest score will appear in the gradebook. Quizzes provide a low-stress opportunity to focus on each module's key objectives, use feedback to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and reinforce your knowledge and skills.
You are required to complete a four-part final project. The final project will give you a chance to practice your information literacy skills and create a formal annotated bibliography on a topic of interest, but this annotated bibliography has a twist! You will have to research both sides of an issue and explore sources that disagree. Refer to the Final Project area of the course site for additional information.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings).
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
TESU's Academic Code of Conduct permits student AI use in support of their writing and research process--not as a replacement for original writing.
Document AI use with an acknowledgment statement at the end of each assignment, noting the tools and prompts used. Cite any AI-generated content on the References page.
Please review Using AI Ethically: A Guide for TESU Students for more detailed information.
Thomas Edison State University recognizes, values, and relies upon the diversity of our community. We strive to provide equitable, inclusive learning experiences that embrace our students’ backgrounds, identities, experiences, abilities, and expertise.
Thomas Edison State University adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990 and ADAAA, 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The Office of Student Accessibility Services (OSAS) oversees requests for academic accommodations related to disabilities, including:
Information can be found on the Office of Student Accessibility Services webpage.
Questions can be sent to ADA@tesu.edu.
Familiarize yourself with all administrative and academic policies, including those related to the following list, to ensure success in all your academic endeavors and coursework at Thomas Edison State University:
For more, see:
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