Desinfo koostööplatvorm
Studies
This page brings together courses addressing disinformation from the Faculties of Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Arts and Humanities, and Medicine.
The courses provide knowledge about misinformation, influence operations, cyber threats, and the impact of artificial intelligence on society, the political sphere, and health-related behaviour, as well as skills for the critical evaluation of information and the development of digital competences. Each course includes a link to its description in the Study Information System (ÕIS), where, among other details, the level of study at which the course can be taken is indicated
Faculty of Social Sciences
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the security threats of the 21st century, such as hostile influencing operations (including hybrid attacks, information manipulation, and cyberattacks), extremism and terrorism, among others, focusing on the digital aspects of these security threats. The course will also discuss the institutions created to counter these threats and the ways in which they aim to achieve this.
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the central theoretical and empirical concepts relating to information society and media studies. The main topics of this course are datafication, AI, (breaking) social norms in digital cultures, dark participation, shaming, affordances, platforms, influencer cultures, gender and networked misogyny, digital intimacies, sex and sexuality online.
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the phenomenon of internal security and the EU organisations involved in it. The course focuses more specifically on terrorism and the fight against terrorism in the work of the EU JHA organisations. The course introduces the phenomena of terrorism, extremism, radicalisation, disinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories, as well as the EU JHA organisations and their measures to prevent and counter these threats.
This course explores the forces shaping global politics and the evolving structures of world order. Its goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between major powers, regional alliances, and smaller states in today’s geopolitical environment. Participants will investigate critical issues, including the role of digital societies, the resilience of democratic systems amid populism and disinformation, and the impact of longstanding alliances and emerging security threats.
The course provides evidence-based intervention practices for preventing the dissemination of disinformation in public communication, social media analysis and various practical guidelines on the organisational and individual levels.
The aim of this course is to introduce the theoretical and empirical concepts of the information society. The topics covered in the course are connected to digital literacies. Among other things, the course explores the phenomena of information disorders, conspiracy theories, and influencing tactics.
This course considers the contemporary cyber risk and information security landscape facing individuals and organizations. It provides an overview of important concepts, policies, threat analysis, and security principles. The students will be provided a basic foundation for assessing cyber and information security risks.
The aim of this course is to provide students with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in analysing their media and information consumption habits. Students will learn and understand the background and potential influence of information disorders on the content they consume, and they will apply practical strategies to enhance their own habits as well as those of others.
The course aims to provide an overview of media literacy and how to teach it to others. To achieve this, students will learn to navigate media and information literacy concepts, map out possible target groups for media education, and the primary teaching methods to develop skills and knowledge related to media and information literacy in different groups.
The course lays the theoretical and conceptual foundation for understanding and analysing disinformation and influence activities. It introduces the student to the contemporary theories of information society, media, journalism, and social media. Students will learn about various forms of information disorder and approaches to countering influence activities.
The course addresses the different nuances that, combined, make up the human experience on digital platforms – the creation and reception of information, self-presentation and identity, smart devices and well-being, etc. The course tries to look beyond the micro-level of things (the personal), discussing the broader transformations in organisations, institutions, and societies, driven by the rapid development of information and communication technologies.
The aim of this course is to discuss the processes characteristic to the current society saturated by media and technology (mediatisation, digitalisation, datafication, platformisation) and the accompanying rise of new publics. Additionally, the concept of public sphere and its change in the context of the development of technology will be discussed, focusing on the phenomena specific to the networked and fragmented publics.
The course examines global information disorder and foreign information influence activities that threaten democracy and people’s lives. Students will analyze the causes of these phenomena and learn approaches to counter foreign influence activities and develop policy solutions.
The course examines the contemporary policy issues that define the current EU political agenda. Students are trained to analyse various current EU policy problems and to design solutions to tackle these issues. The course also explores topics related to disinformation and hybrid influence.
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the political and economic relations between the European Union and Russia, while analysing the key factors that influence these interactions. Additionally, the course will explore Russia’s information warfare tactics directed towards Europe and its allies.
The course aims to develop students’ practical skills in media education, focusing on enhancing the resilience of vulnerable target groups. Students are encouraged to design and implement creative solutions for teaching media literacy.
The course gives an overview of the major digital developments around us and advances participants’ specific digital skills needed both for everyday life as well as for career advancement.
The course introduces key conceptual approaches to the information society and develops the skills needed for promoting digital literacy in youth work. It also addresses the risks involved in collecting and critically interpreting information online.
Faculty of Science and Technology
The aim of this course is to equip students from all disciplines within the university with an understanding of the principles and effects of digital technologies. The lectures will present foundational concepts in a simple manner, using practical examples to reinforce learning. The course will address the issue of misinformation by examining the societal impacts of digital technologies.
The course explores the fundamentals of artificial intelligence with a focus on the concept of trustworthy AI. It introduces the various stages in the development of trustworthy AI, such as identifying and mitigating bias, enhancing the transparency of AI models, and preparing these models to withstand disruptions and attacks.
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The aim of this course is to introduce the specifics on signification processes of new media and to explore the basic frameworks of semiotics applicable to the analysis of contemporary media processes and phenomena. The course is divided into four thematic sections: key topics and major research problems in media semiotics; information overload and strategies for gaining visibility; the visual turn in information culture; phatic and affective social media communication. Additionally, the course will further explore the phenomena of trolling and conspiracy theories.
The course introduces the concept of discourse and the range of its applications in different subfields of English Studies. The course introduces argumentation techniques and discourses used in English-language texts as well as methods suitable for analyzing them. Students will read and analyse different text types, honing their skills of critical reading and analysing necessary for their own independent research. The seminars also address topics related to manipulation and disinformation.
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of the formation of ethnic prejudice and stereotypes and their influence on history. The course examines issues related to national identity, the development of racial theory and eugenics, policies targeting ethnic minorities, and the role of mass media in perpetuating stereotypes. Additionally, the course focuses on the theory of propaganda and the processes involved in constructing the image of an enemy.
The aim of this course is to provide the knowledge of how politics influences public consciousness. The course concentrates on political folklore: folk expressions that emerge as a reaction to political events and processes. Additionally, the course analyses various genres of political folklore: political jokes, conspiracy theories, fake news, surveillance rumors, nationalist narratives. The course proceeds from the methodological or theoretical approaches of different disciplines, such as ethnology, political science, sociology, history, anthropology, linguistics.
The aim of this course is to study the era of the Cold War in international relations, tracing the developments in military strategy, ideology and propaganda, diplomacy and secret services, European integration, international organisations and international law. Kaarel Piirimäe, the lecturer in charge, discussed the course’s relevance to misinformation by stating: “The Cold War was a struggle between two ideologies, two societal models, two modernization projects. Both sides used propaganda to ‘win over the human soul’, making the Cold War a valuable resource for students today who want to learn the fundamentals of source criticism and develop broader critical thinking skills.
The aim of this course is to unveil the fundamental tactics utilized in information influence activities and to demonstrate the applicability of semiotic frameworks in their qualitative analysis. Furthermore, the course aims to introduce a critical perspective on the studies of information influence activities and misinformation.
The aim of this course is to explore the phenomenon of rumours from a transdisciplinary perspective. The course examines the life cycle of rumours, from their origins (and even beyond that) to their final diffusion in the society (and their future recurrence). The basic premise of the course is that rumours are a phenomenal, fleeting representation of deeper mechanisms of the deviation and maintenance of the institutional order that structures our social reality.
The course explores the key concepts, arguments, and challenges within the philosophy of science. It offers an overview of the main philosophical theories related to science and examines methodological questions in scientific practice. Additionally, the course addresses topics from the perspective of the philosophy of science, such as science and pseudoscience, the nature of truth, objectivism, and the role of science in society.
Faculty of Medicine
The course provides an overview of nursing science. The aim is to enhance students’ understanding of the nature and development of knowledge in nursing science and its implications for nursing practice. Students will learn how to find, critically evaluate, and apply reliable, evidence-based information. Additionally, they will be guided on how to verify and utilize information provided by AI-based text generators.
The aim of this course is to deepen the knowledge of nursing science and its philosophical and ethical fundamentals, and to provide knowledge about the objectives of nursing science research, principal issues and trends of nursing science. The course seeks to develop an understanding of the impact of philosophical viewpoints on the development of nursing science knowledge, nursing practice, nursing management, nursing education and research. Students will learn how to find, critically evaluate, and apply reliable, evidence-based information.
The aim of this course is to introduce the principles of evidence-based public health/health practice. Upon completing this course, students will be able to seek, analyse, and present evidence-based information related to various health problems, interventions, and public health issues. The course covers topics such as experimental studies, clinical trials, qualitative methods in evaluation, policy and program evaluation, as well as practical evaluations of infectious diseases and public health programs.
The aim of this course is to provide an understanding of health promotion and the principles behind health promotion interventions. It also offers an overview of the key interventions related to risk behaviors and disease prevention in Estonia. Misinformation is addressed under topics related to nutrition.
The aim of this course is to provide knowledge of health risks associated with living and working environments and their impact on population health. Students will learn the fundamentals of health risk assessment and explore methods to prevent environmental hazards. Misinformation is addressed, for instance, in the context of climate change.
