Information & Digital Literacy for University Success

This course is part of Academic Skills for University Success Specialization

Instructor: Katherine Olston

Access provided by Marie Curie Alumni Association

104,888 already enrolled

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4,759 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

4 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

4,759 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

4 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

29 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 6 modules in this course

This Specialization is aimed at preparing students for undergraduate study in an English-speaking university. The course equips you for full participation and engagement with your studies by building awareness and understanding of the core values and expectations of academic culture, and providing you with practical strategies to apply to your studies. In this course, you will learn how to develop your Information & Digital Literacy Skills to help you achieve success in your university studies. After completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Access and search for information efficiently and effectively using a variety of digital tools. 2. Critically evaluate the reliability of sources for an academic context. 3. Filter, manage and organize information from a wide variety of sources for use in academic study. 4. Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues related to academic integrity surrounding the access and use of information. 5. Understand how to use digital tools for referencing and attribution in order to avoid plagiarism. 6. Understand how to disseminate and communicate information in a professional way, including managing digital identity and building networks for learning and research.

After this module you will be able to (1). Understand the structure and expectations of the course (2). Understand expectations about information and digital literacy within academic culture (3). Articulate the skills & dispositions needed to function effectively in the digital space (4). Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues related to academic integrity surrounding the access and use of information

What's included

7 videos9 readings6 assignments3 discussion prompts

7 videosTotal 44 minutes

Welcome to the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization!2 minutes
1.1a Welcome and Course Information5 minutes
1.1b Introduction to Example Essay Question4 minutes
1.2a Introduction to Academic Culture12 minutes
1.2b Introduction to Digital Literacy9 minutes
1.3 Survival Skills for University5 minutes
1.4 Academic Integrity9 minutes

9 readingsTotal 90 minutes

Information & Digital Literacy Overview & Learning Outcomes10 minutes
Information & Digital Literacy Assessment Overview10 minutes
Summative Peer Assessment10 minutes
Glossary of Terms10 minutes
Acknowledgements10 minutes
1.1 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
1.2 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
1.3 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
1.4 Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 130 minutes
Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 130 minutes
1.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
1.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
1.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
1.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 22 minutes

1.1 Introduce yourself2 minutes
1.4 Academic Integrity10 minutes
Module 1 - Questions for Instructors10 minutes

After this module you will be able to (1). Define the characteristics of different kinds of information (2). Know where to look for information from various sources (3). Develop a search strategy and filter large numbers of search results effectively (4). Document and evaluate your search strategy

What's included

9 videos7 readings6 assignments2 app items3 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 52 minutes

2.1a The Scholarly and Cultural Record6 minutes
2.1b Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Sources7 minutes
2.1c Discipline Specific Information4 minutes
2.2a Common Information Sources at University6 minutes
2.2b Characteristics of Journal Articles6 minutes
2.3 Accessing Information (Experts)4 minutes
2.4a Defining an Information Need8 minutes
2.4b Developing a Search Strategy5 minutes
2.4c Documenting and Evaluating the Search Strategy7 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

2.1 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
2.1b Information Types by Field10 minutes
2.2 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
2.2b How to Read a Journal Article in the Humanities10 minutes
2.2b How to Read a Journal Article in the Sciences10 minutes
2.3 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
2.4 Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 136 minutes

Summative Quiz - Module 215 minutes
Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 21 minute
2.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
2.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 app itemsTotal 120 minutes

Before Module 2 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes
After Module 2 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

2.1 Information Sources in your Field10 minutes
2.4 Searching for Information10 minutes
Module 2 - Questions for Instructors10 minutes

After this module you will be able to (1). Apply criteria to critically evaluate the reliability of sources for an academic context (2). Identify the factors that make a web resource reliable (3). Filter information effectively (4). Use file-naming conventions and appropriate software to effectively organize and store information

What's included

9 videos6 readings6 assignments2 app items3 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 54 minutes

3.1a Critically Evaluating Information8 minutes
3.1b Critically Evaluating Web Resources5 minutes
3.1c Critically Evaluating Wikipedia (Screencast)7 minutes
3.2a Establishing Relevance7 minutes
3.2b Establishing Relevance6 minutes
3.3a Managing Information: Files6 minutes
3.3b Managing Information: Folders3 minutes
3.4a Processing and Coding: Steps 1 and 28 minutes
3.4b Processing and Coding: Step 34 minutes

6 readingsTotal 60 minutes

3.1 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
3.2 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
3.2b Supplementary Academic Articles10 minutes
3.3 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
3.3b Guides to File-naming Conventions and Folder Hierarchies10 minutes
3.4 Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Summative - Module 330 minutes
Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 330 minutes
3.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
3.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 app itemsTotal 120 minutes

Before Module 3 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes
After Module 3 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

3.1b Critically Evaluating Information Online10 minutes
3.3 Managing your Information10 minutes
Module 3 - Questions for Instructors10 minutes

After this module you will be able to (1). Understand the consequences of plagiarism in the academic context (2). Use referencing conventions to appropriately cite a variety of information sources and avoid plagiarism (3). Understand how to incorportate ideas from sources into your work (4). Be familiar with different referencing software and evaluate it for your own purposes

What's included

9 videos5 readings5 assignments2 app items3 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 56 minutes

4.1 Avoiding Plagiarism11 minutes
4.2 Referencing & Attributing Resources7 minutes
4.3a Incorporating Sources3 minutes
4.3b Incorporating Sources: Quotes9 minutes
4.3c Paraphrasing and Summarising10 minutes
4.4a Referencing Software5 minutes
4.4b Mendeley3 minutes
4.4c Zotero4 minutes
4.4d EndNote4 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

4.1 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
4.2 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
4.3 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
4.4 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
4.4a Referencing Software10 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 150 minutes

Summative - Module 430 minutes
Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 430 minutes
4.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
4.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
4.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 app itemsTotal 120 minutes

Before Module 4 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes
After Module 4 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

4.1 Avoiding Plagiarism10 minutes
4.4 Referencing Software10 minutes
Module 4 - Questions for Instructors10 minutes

After this module you will be able to (1). Understand new forms of licensing for online content (2). Communicate effectively in different digital modes (3). Manage digital identity across different domains (4). Use digital networks to manage and advance learning

What's included

9 videos5 readings6 assignments2 app items4 discussion prompts

9 videosTotal 52 minutes

5.1a Copyright6 minutes
5.1b Creative Commons Licencing4 minutes
5.2 Digital Networks for Learning and Research6 minutes
5.3a Managing Digital Identity9 minutes
5.3b Presenting yourself online9 minutes
5.4a Communicating Online4 minutes
5.4b Emailing Lecturers2 minutes
5.4c Writing an Email6 minutes
5.4d Discussion Board Netiquette5 minutes

5 readingsTotal 50 minutes

5.1 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
5.2 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
5.3 Learning Outcomes10 minutes
5.3a Security Management Tips10 minutes
5.4 Learning Outcomes10 minutes

6 assignmentsTotal 180 minutes

Summative - Module 530 minutes
Discussion Board Self-Assessment - Module 530 minutes
5.1 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.2 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.3 Practice Quiz30 minutes
5.4 Practice Quiz30 minutes

2 app itemsTotal 120 minutes

Before Module 5 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes
After Module 5 - Confidence Dashboard60 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

5.2 Your Personal Learning Network10 minutes
5.3a Managing your Digital Identity10 minutes
5.3b Write a Twitter Bio10 minutes
Module 5 - Questions for Instructors10 minutes

What's included

3 readings1 peer review

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(1,365 ratings)

Katherine Olston

The University of Sydney

9 Courses183,173 learners

Offered by

The University of Sydney

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
92.54%
4 stars
5.21%
3 stars
0.94%
2 stars
0.14%
1 star
1.15%

Showing 3 of 4759

Reviewed on May 22, 2021

An excellent course! I wish I had knew this before I started college. I am in grad school now and I am so thankful I came across it.

Reviewed on Feb 4, 2025

This course to me is vital because nowaday the way we approach information have changed so this course help participants to study more skill in the method we evaluate the information we find.

Reviewed on Dec 18, 2018

This course taught me skills I had either forgotten about or needed to learn. I am thankful for taking it and recommend it to anyone who is entering university.

View more reviews