ABERDEEN, S.D. — Northern State University's Beulah Williams Library has launched a free, self-paced Media Literacy Microcredential open to anyone looking to sharpen their ability to identify and combat misinformation in today's digital information environment.

The microcredential can be completed at any time and covers a broad range of topics including the difference between misinformation, disinformation and malinformation, the history of how misinformation spreads, social media filter bubbles, echo chambers, deepfakes and artificial intelligence, and practical fact-checking and verification techniques. Participants will also learn how to evaluate source credibility using the CRAAP Test and other media literacy frameworks.

"This is a fantastic resource for anyone who is looking for ways to combat the misinformation found on the web and in the media," said Lynn Klundt, reference and instruction librarian at Beulah Williams Library.

Upon completing the microcredential, participants will be able to define and identify common types of misinformation, evaluate the credibility of sources, apply media literacy frameworks, use fact-checking and reverse image search tools and develop strategies to reduce the spread of misinformation.

The goal of the program is to empower individuals with the critical thinking and evaluation skills needed to navigate today's complex information landscape and make informed decisions based on credible sources. The Media Literacy Microcredential is available at d2l.sdbor.edu/d2l/le/discovery/view/course/2231362.

The microcredential is currently hosted on the Board of Regents D2L learning platform, which requires a university login. Community members outside of NSU who are interested in completing the microcredential are encouraged to contact Jennifer Deutsch, director of Empowering Innovators, at jennifer.deutsch@northern.edu or 605-626-2108 to request access.