Sleep deprivation, fake news, privacy and reputation, and the internet’s effect on human society are topics that will be discussed in the next round of the University of Michigan Teach-Out Series.
Registration, which is free and open to all, is now open for the second round of teach-outs to be offered beginning in October and early November.
Teach-outs are short learning opportunities designed to focus on specific issues that are relevant to and affect many individuals. They bring people together on the internet to share diverse perspectives, and allow individuals to engage in meaningful interactions about current topics.
“With teach-outs we have moved beyond the broadcast model to create sustained two-way engagement with multi-generational, global public audiences,” said James DeVaney, associate vice provost for academic innovation.
“Teach-outs are conversations that combine the deep expertise of U-M faculty with lived experiences and intellectual curiosity from world citizens looking to level up to understand and confront society’s most important problems. The result is greater understanding of our diverse perspectives and shared experiences and new opportunities to develop solutions.
“As we expand the Teach-Out Series around the world, we are also working with faculty to incorporate these timely learning experiences into existing curricular and co-curricular activities at U-M.”
The next four offerings and start dates are:
- Fake News, Facts, and Alternative Facts — Oct. 2
- Sleep Deprivation: Habits, Solutions, and Strategies — Oct. 23
- The Internet and You — Oct. 30
- Privacy, Reputation, and Identity in a Digital Age — Nov. 6
Sleep deprivation is a problem that many face. This teach-out is designed to be a starting point for many to sleep better and help their friends or family with sleep problems.
“Sleep deprivation has reached epidemic proportions,” said Ronald Chevrin, the Michael S. Aldrich Collegiate Professor of Sleep Medicine and director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Michigan Medicine.
“The reasons are varied — work, school, sports, socializing, politics, kids, binge watching, Facebook, texting, stress, anxiety, jetlag — but the outcomes of too little sleep are more uniform: impaired performance, mood, learning, and decision making, not to mention crashes on the road and serious health consequences.
“This teach-out will teach you some of the science behind healthy sleep, how to achieve it, and how to help others reach the same goal.”
Both “The Internet and You” and “Privacy, Reputation, and Identity in a Digital Age” focus on the impact of technology in our daily lives. “The Internet and You” looks at how the internet has affected human communication and social interactions, and how the internet will affect society in the future.
“Privacy, Reputation, and Identity in a Digital Age” will examine how the collection of big data shapes our digital identities and footprints.
“Since the World Wide Web burst onto the scene in the early 1990’s, the internet has become an inescapable part of daily life,” said Tim McKay, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, professor of physics, astronomy and education, and director of the Digital Innovation Greenhouse. “It has changed the way we communicate, learn, work, shop, and connect.”
The teach-out on fake news was very successful in its first round in March, and the topic remains top-of-mind in our nation. It will cover how to distinguish fake news from real news. It will also explain how the news process works, which can be important to understand given the prevalence of media in our everyday lives.
