Digital Literacies and 21st Century Skills

Elizabeth explains Wikipedia’s “Women in Red” edit-a-thons, where editors work to turn red links (missing pages) into blue links, focusing on gaps in women’s, especially Black women’s, representation and the notability bias that can lead to women’s pages being challenged or rejected. She highlights the effort required to build articles and contrasts Wikipedia’s open, long-form editing and evolving...

Ricardo and Alina introduce their first “Think of a Bobble” podcast episode and discuss how social media shapes K-pop fandom communities and identity across linguistic barriers. They describe how Twitter’s reduced language barriers enable Korean, American, and other fans to interact, and how intense “stan” culture can become defensive or even dangerous, including doxxing, stalking, and parasocial...

In this episode, we talk about how social media impacts learning, and whether it is helping or hurting us. We expand and connect ideas from our readings, video, and real life experiences, such as learning from TikTok or YouTube. We also dive into how fast information spreads online, and how hard it can be to tell what is true. It is a mix of class concepts, informational prompts, and an interestin...

Ayana and Brady discuss disinformation, using the Trump administration’s claims about an Iranian nuclear threat as an example, and distinguish disinformation (deliberate falsehoods meant to confuse or influence) from misinformation (unintentional falsehoods). They debate accountability, noting free speech protections and proposing that government officials and media should face legal consequences...

In this bonus episode, Crystal teams up with her best friend Michelle to tackle a topic of what social media is really doing to us, and especially to kids. They discuss the alarming amount of time we're glued to our screens, how it's messing with kids' ability to self-regulate and connect face-to-face, and how parents' scrolling habits are part of the problem too.  References Ambrosi, D. (2023, Ma...

In this week's podcast, Crystal and Rasnia explore the concept of virtual communities, sharing their personal experiences and discussing the profound impact of these communities on mental health, personal growth, and societal changes. They delve into how virtual communities facilitate connections between people with shared interests, offering support and new perspectives. The episode also touches...

In this week’s podcast, we focused on the impact social media has on upcoming generations and its larger effect on society as a whole. In our discussion, we dive into 3 main topics: different social media platforms, how social media affects mental health, and the different affordances and constraints that come with living in the age of social media. Social Media encompasses a lot of different aspe...

In this episode, hosts Kayla and Kelly dive into the digital mess that is Disinformation. While discussing disinformation, we explore our experiences with disinformation, why it happens, who spreads it, and how we can combat it. We reference Bulger and Davison’s article, “The Promises, Challenges, and Futures of Media Literacy” as well as, Samuel Spies’, "Producers of Disinformation”. Our discussi...

The Misinformation podcast, hosted by Aleah and Dana, explores how misinformation has become more present in our everyday lives than ever before. We've included soundbites and other references to enrich the discussion. Our conversation begins with a reflection on how people communicated before the internet. We then introduce several theories, touching on concepts like echo chambers, filter bubbles...

In this episode, we will discuss Teaching with AI by José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson (2024), focusing on Chapter 3, “AI Literacy,” and Chapter 4, “Reimagining Creativity.” The conversation explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping both the way we think and the way we create. Through a reflective dialogue, the hosts unpack what it means to be truly AI literate, not just technically...

Eliana and Jess, explore remix culture beyond music, spanning literature, games, social media, and even food. From Shakespeare’s adaptations to TikTok trends and Cronuts, remixing is everywhere. Tune in to learn how remixing sparks creativity, builds 21st-century skills, and lets anyone put their own spin on the world. References Abdul, P. (1989). Cold hearted [Song]. On Forever your girl [Album]....

In this episode, hosts Taye and Margaret delve into the realm of multimedia learning. They discuss the daily interaction with digital content, from blog posts to Zoom meetings, and emphasize the practical application of multimedia principles. The conversation highlights the cognitive load theory and personalization principle, referencing Richard Myers' 1997 research. The hosts discuss the evolutio...

In this premiere episode of The Class Act Podcast , hosts Mike Lombardo and Aaron Hung dive into multimodal literacy and what it means for today’s classrooms.  They explore multimodality in education, drawing on ideas from Kress, Gardner, and include an in depth discussion on visual literacy and digital media. The discussion highlights how images, video, sound, and design have become central to co...

In this episode, Alyssa, Kahmari, and Giovanna explore the intricacies of virtual communities on TikTok. They discuss various scholarly articles and personal insights into how virtual communities function as communities of practice, the impact of algorithms, and the role of influencers. Key points include the positives and negatives of TikTok's algorithm, the spread of misinformation, and the sens...

Social media is a huge part of our everyday lives. From creating connections, building up careers, and just pure entertainment. However, as social media has its pros there are also its cons which go much deeper than its typical technological capabilities. Isabella, Kayla, and Mohammad go in depth on the major effects social media has on one’s mental health ranging from children, teens and adults....

In this episode, Ryan and Michelle dive into the critical topic of disinformation, explaining its distinction from misinformation. They explore the historical context of disinformation, its modern amplification through technology like generative AI and DeepFakes, and the real-world impacts these technologies have already had. The discussion highlights the complexities of identifying and combating...

Hop into the echo chamber of misinformation-information with Cassidy, Evelyn, and Isaak to learn about some common examples of bias controlling our interpretations of events. Whether in media, the news, or just everyday occurrences, your personal world view can shape how you understand something that seemingly has a definite meaning. In this episode, Cassidy, Evelyn, and Isaak discuss echo chamber...

In this episode, Bevin, Givana, and Luke discuss the concept of remixes in pop culture and media, inspired by Kirby Ferguson's YouTube video 'Everything is a Remix.' They explore how social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube borrow features from each other, and how this concept extends to music, art, and television. They also delve into the implications of remixing for originality...

Ryan and Emily introduce the world of virtual communities that span the vast range of social media and networking platforms that so many of us frequent every day. They talk about what exactly is a virtual community, what are they all about, what helps them function, and how they have impacts that go beyond the screen. Emily and Ryan also share some personal experiences they have with virtual commu...

In this podcast episode on digital literacy, hosts Nicole, Jasmine, and Alyssa discuss about how social media has changed over the years, from Myspace to today’s AI-powered platforms. They explain how social media moved from a place to connect with friends to a main source of news, where algorithms push popular content even if it’s misleading. The hosts share personal stories to show how easily pe...

This is a recap of the last episode, Disinformation and Dysfunction: What Makes It a Lie , hosted by Liberty and Lina. Click here to view the episode transcript.

In this episode, Liberty and Lina as they explore the intricate world of disinformation, highlighting its impact during the 2020 US election and the role of social media in spreading falsehoods. They discuss the importance of media literacy, cybersecurity education in schools, and the collective responsibility of parents, students, and companies. The conversation also tackles the polarizing effect...

This is a recap of the last episode, Media, Monsters, and Misinformation , hosted by Cassondra and Dani. Click here to view the episode transcript.

In this podcast episode on digital literacy, hosts Dani and Cassondra discuss the concepts of misinformation and disinformation. They explain the difference between the two, emphasizing that misinformation is false information shared unintentionally, while disinformation is deliberately false. The discussion includes how the human brain processes information via selective perception and confirmati...

This is a recap of the last episode, The Power of Remix: Transforming Education and Media , hosted by Adriana, Divya, and Kat. Click here to view the episode transcript.