The term "post-truth," the Oxford Dictionaries 2016 Word of the Year, reflects an era where everyone is a few clicks away from information that supports any goal, belief, or outcome desired whether or not that information is factual. Evaluating information and recognizing "fake news" is a critical skill for everyone. For social workers, advocates, policy makers, and others responsible for human well-being, it's essential to find reliable data and other evidence to promote best practice and avoid the dangers of inaccurate information. Skill in locating and evaluating information can also help a practitioner work with clients and others who bring incorrect information into an interaction. This mini-course will address the following:
- Understanding the phenomenon of fake news in the information landscape
- Building strategies for spotting fake news
- Addressing best approaches to locate "real" news
- Learning how to fact-check data and statistics
- Ways in which information is organized, structured, and delivered to support the dominant social narratives in the U.S.
Registration for this course is closed. Visit the CE Course Catalog for more offerings.
University of Michigan
School of Social Work
1080 South University Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106