HUM 234 Facts Matter: Solving the problem of Fake News during COVID-19
In this course, students will explore potential solutions to a problem described most broadly as a failure of public trust in sources of truth about matters of fact, or in other words, “Fake News.” Fake news has captured the attention of politicians, the media, and the general public since 2016, but the concept is hardly new. It has existed in some form for centuries and it affects every discipline. It’s time to: develop the critical thinking skills necessary to be an informed citizen; understand how one’s worldview affects one’s interpretation of the news; create a personal strategy for fact-checking and evaluating the news; and create a personal strategy to be a responsible creator/disseminator of information. We will use these skills to develop creative, concrete potential (albeit inevitably partial) interventions, solutions, or projects that might help people identify and trust sources of truth and/or that might prevent the spread of misinformation during critical events, like a pandemic.