Program Overview

Digital Resilience Against Disinformation (DOMINOES) Course

Overview

The Digital Resilience Against Disinformation (DOMINOES) course is designed to strengthen digital resilience to disinformation and improve key competences defined in the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens. The course focuses on the current information system, disinformation, and its impact on society and democratic processes.

Course Objectives

• Gain a comprehensive perspective on the information environment from a security perspective.
• Recognize new threats associated with the emergence of new technologies.
• Improve the ability to recognize and assess misinformation spread in online environments.
• Assess the impact of fake news on society and democratic processes.
• Understand the role of social media platforms in the fight against the spread of online disinformation.
• Enhance the ability to combat disinformation by providing general guidance on planning, designing, and implementing counter-narratives and positive narratives.

Course Structure

The course is divided into five main units:

1. The Information Environment from a Security Perspective: Trends, threats, vulnerabilities, and future challenges.
2. Understanding the Current Challenge of Disinformation and Information Manipulation: Macroenvironmental and individual aggravating factors.
3. Mitigating the Threat and Building Resilience to Disinformation: Transnational responses, regulatory responses, resilience building, critical thinking, media and digital literacies, fact-checking, and de-bunking.
4. Advanced Analytic and Responding Toolkit: Strategic analysis of disinformation, current analysis, combating the effects of disinformation, tech-driven solutions, and counter-narratives.
5. Simulation Exercises, Serious and Wargaming to Combat Disinformation: Debunk simulation, deepfakes against deepfakes, and disinformation game.

Course Staff

• Rubén Arcos, Ph.D.: Associate professor at the School of Communication Sciences of URJC and researcher at the Cyberimaginario group.
• Manuel Gertrudix, Ph.D.: Professor of Digital Communication at the Rey Juan Carlos University and coordinator of the Cyberimaginary research group.
• Cristina Ivan, Ph.D.: Director of the National Institute for Intelligence Studies, "Mihai Viteazul" National Intelligence Academy in Romania.
• Irena Chiru, Ph.D.: Professor of intelligence studies at "Mihai Viteazul" National Intelligence Academy Romania.
• Aitana Radu, Ph.D.: Lecturer at the University of Malta and Security Research Coordinator within the Department of Information Policy & Governance.
• Ruxandra Buluc, Ph.D.: Senior researcher at the National Institute for Intelligence Studies in "Mihai Viteazul" National Intelligence Academy.
• Kanchi Ganatra, Ph.D.: Political anthropologist specializing in migration within the EU.
• Valentin Stoian Iordache, Ph.D.: Researcher with the "Mihai Viteazul" National Intelligence Academy.
• Alexandra Anghel (Mrs): Young researcher at the "Mihai Viteazul" National Intelligence Academy.
• Cristina Arribas, Ph.D.: Researcher at Ciberimaginario Research Group within University Rey Juan Carlos.
• Mario Rajas Fernández: Professor of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising at the Rey Juan Carlos University.
• Alejandro Carbonel Alcocer, Ph.D.: Postdoctoral researcher at Ciberimaginario Research Group.
• Juan Romero Luis: Holds a PhD in communication sciences from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos.
• Alberto Sánchez Acedo: Pre-doctoral researcher with a grant from the Community of Madrid.
• Nerea Benítez Aranda: Research assistant in Ciberimaginario Research Group at Rey Juan Carlos University.
• Roberta Răducu (Ms): Assistant professor at SNSPA and communication expert with New Strategy Center.
• Ana Ćuća (Ms): Research Support Officer at the Department of Information Policy & Governance at the University of Malta.

Requirements

• This course is particularly suitable for students and teachers of social and security sciences interested in the current information system.
• Previous knowledge is not required, but curiosity and interest in improving the information ecosystem are necessary.
• Prior knowledge of communication studies (disinformation, propaganda, media literacy, and fake news) can be beneficial.

Certification

• A certificate of completion can be obtained once all compulsory activities of the course are completed.
• The certificate reflects successful completion of the MOOC and includes the number of hours of the course.

Duration and Pace

• The course is available to start and finish at the learner's own pace.
• It is recommended to spend about four hours a week on the course, but this is flexible.
• The course consists of 49 units, 5 exams, and is estimated to take 25 hours to complete.

Language

• The course is offered in English.
• Autoevaluation is included in the course structure.