From tweetstorms to troll farms, social media has become deeply polarized; a force that is frequently unpleasant and may even pose a threat to democracy. What to do? A new pop-up MOOC from Davidson Now invites students to explore active solutions.
Productive, participatory engagement builds communities and builds networks that support real interaction and change. When meeting face-to-face is no longer necessary, what does engagement look like in a democratic society?
– Prof. Natalie Delia Deckard, Davidson College
On Feb. 12, Davidson College will launch “Engagement in a Time of Polarization,” a free, two-week online course that will engage learners in a conversation about active, effective collaboration in a divisive media ecosystem.
Students will:
- Learn about historical models for creating an informed, engaged citizenry from professors Natalie Delia Deckard of Davidson College and Bonnie Stewart of the University of Prince Edward Island
- Evaluate the implications of polarization–and participatory engagement–for educators, government and media; and
- Participate in real-time discussions with leading voices in media literacy, disinformation and polarization.
This is the third class from Davidson Now, a digital learning series from Davidson College on edX.org.
More information:
- DAVIDSON NOW: Taking the Toxicity Out Of A Social Media Society
- Register for “Engagement in a Time of Polarization.”
recording in the pop-up MOOC Studio at Davidson College
