The University of Montpellier is committed to civic education through the creation of a MOOC
Information literacy and communication are topics that concern everyone. In the current context of an information overload—with content of varying degrees of reliability circulating online—citizens need cross-disciplinary skills more than ever to navigate this landscape, exercise sound critical thinking, and objectively find relevant information on any given topic. To meet these needs, the University of Montpellier has created an online course (MOOC) on the theme “Learning to Stay Better Informed: Meeting the Challenge of Information,” which will run from February 19 through April 20, 2024. It will be freely available on the France Université Numérique platform.
Why was the MOOC created?
Information plays a major role today in the political and economic spheres as well as in private life. Choosing information sources, searching effectively, assessing the reliability of a document or website, and maintaining a critical mindset: through its focused yet comprehensive approach, this MOOC helps you acquire fundamental skills, regardless of the ever-changing technical and technological environment in which we study, work, and live every day.
Designed by the Joint Documentation Service, this MOOC provides everyone with the tools to navigate a landscape of overwhelming amounts of information—some more reliable than others—found on websites and social media. It helps participants develop the information literacy skills that are now more essential than ever for any citizen who wants to find their way, exercise sound critical thinking, and objectively identify relevant information on a given topic. It encourages reflection on best practices and offers methodological tools, exercises and activities, summary sheets, and various resources for further exploration. This course consists of six parts that will become available over the course of several weeks. Through introductory and summary videos, interactive presentations, and quizzes, participants will discover best practices for information search. The teaching team will moderate a forum several times a week.
The MOOC is open to the general public and has no prerequisites. At the end of the six-week course, participants will receive a certificate of completion in the form of an open badge. Registration is open until March 20, 2024.
A MOOC that embodies the values of the University of Montpellier
The University of Montpellier upholds strong values of excellence in both research and student education to address the societal challenges of tomorrow. However, the profound societal and economic changes taking shape in response to concerns about climate, public health, and working conditions will require everyone to be able to learn and stay informed independently—to meet the immediate needs of their work, develop the ability to adapt to the workforce throughout their lives, or maintain a vital link between science and society. Given its original nature—covering a topic that has received very little attention—and the fact that it is aimed at all audiences with a civic dimension, the University of Montpellier was naturally keen to promote this project and make it a priority. This MOOC is part of the Strategic Management Dialogue (2022) and, within this framework, is co-funded by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Practical Information:
- Date: February 19 through April 20, 2024.
- Registration: Deadline is March 20, 2024.
- The MOOC syllabus: here.