Information & Digital Literacy for University Success (Coursera)

Information & Digital Literacy for University Success (Coursera)

This Specilaization 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.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

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.

Course 1 of 5 in the Academic Skills for University Success Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction to Information & Digital Literacy at University
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

WEEK 2
Defining, Accessing & Searching for Information
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

WEEK 3
Critically Evaluating, Filtering & Managing Information
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

WEEK 4
Referencing, Incorporating Sources & Avoiding Plagiarism
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

WEEK 5
Disseminating & Communicating Information
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

WEEK 6
Summative Assessment

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Becoming a Language Friendly Teacher (Coursera) Coursera
Erasmus University Rotterdam

Becoming a Language Friendly Teacher (Coursera)

Attention teachers worldwide! Get ready to embark on an exciting journey into the world of language diversity in classrooms. As the global landscape changes, more and more children are speaking languages different from the ones used for instruction. You might have already noticed the rich tapestry of languages spoken by your students and their families, creating a wonderfully diverse environment within your school.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Learning to Teach Online (Coursera) Coursera
UNSW Sydney - University of New South Wales

Learning to Teach Online (Coursera)

Are you an educator? Have you ever wanted to understand more about how to design your class to make better use of educational technology – whether fully online or in blended contexts? Would you like to learn from those who have extensive practical experience with online technologies? The Learning to Teach Online (LTTO) MOOC will help you develop a working understanding of successful online teaching strategies that you can apply in your own practice. The course is based upon the multi award winning open educational resource developed by Dr Simon McIntyre and Karin Watson.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introducción al Aprendizaje Universitario (Coursera) Coursera
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Introducción al Aprendizaje Universitario (Coursera)

Este es un MOOC introductorio al aprendizaje universitario, a través del cual, el estudiante podrá conocer aspectos fundamentales que intervienen en el aprendizaje y rendimiento académico universitario. Representa a la vez una oportunidad para reflexionar sobre el propio quehacer académico como estudiante, así como una instancia para conocer distintas herramientas que promueven mejores prácticas en el contexto del estudio.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Niños y Adolescentes en la cultura audiovisual y digital (Coursera) Coursera
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Niños y Adolescentes en la cultura audiovisual y digital (Coursera)

Le damos la más cordial bienvenida al MOOC “Niños y Adolescentes en la cultura audiovisual y digital”, desarrollado por la Facultad de Comunicaciones de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Este curso está enfocado en mostrar el rol que tienen los medios de comunicación y las tecnologías frente a los niños y los adolescentes que en la actualidad crecen en una cultura audiovisual y digital.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Understanding China, 1700-2000: A Data Analytic Approach, Part 1 (Coursera)

The purpose of this course is to summarize new directions in Chinese history and social science produced by the creation and analysis of big historical datasets based on newly opened Chinese archival holdings, and to organize this knowledge in a framework that encourages learning about China in comparative perspective. Our course demonstrates how a new scholarship of discovery is redefining what is singular about modern China and modern Chinese history.

Sep 28th 2026
5-12 Weeks
English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate (Coursera)

The English and Academic Preparation - Pre-Collegiate course is for students with a (minimum) high-intermediate level of English. It is designed to help international students develop the academic skills necessary for success in undergraduate studies at an American university while strengthening their English proficiency. Ideally, prospective students have completed or are near completion of a high school diploma in their country and would like to come to the United States to study for a bachelor’s degree.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Conciencia Lingüística (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana

Conciencia Lingüística (Coursera)

Al finalizar el curso serás capaz de: Tomar conciencia acerca de cómo funciona el lenguaje humano, en lo que se refiere a la formación de palabras y estructuras que usamos a diario, su combinación y sus distintas posibilidades de significado. Con ello, se espera que el estudiante desarrolle una conciencia lingüística sobre el español y, con ello, logre un mayor control sobre el uso creativo de las palabras y las oraciones en español.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Assessing Achievement with the ELL in Mind (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Assessing Achievement with the ELL in Mind (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn how to design assessments around the needs of your ELL students and their language level. You will learn how to incorporate language and content requirements for both formative and summative assessment types. You will learn to assess your ELL students through the use of project and task-based assignments.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches and Pedagogies (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches and Pedagogies (Coursera)

This course opens with an exploration of the social context and aims of literacy teaching and learning. It goes on to describe a range of historical and contemporary approaches to literacy pedagogy, including didactic, authentic, functional, and critical approaches. The course takes has a 'Multiliteracies' perspective, which aims to expand the definition of literacy to encompass today's multimodal communications, and the diversity of literacies across different social and culltural contexts.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks
Writing your World: Finding yourself in the academic space (Coursera) Coursera
University of Cape Town

Writing your World: Finding yourself in the academic space (Coursera)

Throughout the world, writing serves to express, record and even create meaningful moments. In academic spaces, writing becomes the bridge between ourselves and the world of ideas. In this course, we provide practical insights into how to write an academic essay. We show you how to develop the academic skills needed to be a competent academic writer. You will have an opportunity to engage with texts written by academics, and to see how some of the ideas in these texts are used by students in constructing an academic essay.

Sep 28th 2026
4 Weeks