Paper18-14

Higher Education in the Time of Fake News

Gergina Zhablyanova1, Miriana Pavlova1, Kristina Bosakova1, Bella Tetevenska1

1 University of Library Studies and Information Technologies (BULGARIA)

Висшето образование във времето на фалшивите новини

Гергина Бориславова Жаблянова1, Мирияна Пламенова Павлова1, Кристина Стойкова Босакова1, Белла Иванова Тетевенска1

1 Университет по библиотекознание и информационни технологии, гр. София

* Авторите изказват благодарност към научен проект “Mодел за формиране и развитие на умения и компетенции при използването на информационни ресурси, основан на науката за информирането (informing science)”, за цялостното финансиране на настоящата работа.

Abstract: In the modern globalizing world, the subject of education, training and lifelong learning is particularly relevant and often discussed, along with the theme of the formation of a new information culture, a society based on knowledge, accessibility, transparency and security of information. Media as a main mechanism and essential tool for informing, communication, information exchange, generating ideas, connecting, and even creating friendships is placed on central position in this new system. The widespread introduction of electronic media as a means of informing led to a negative trend – their use as a means of manipulation or the generation of so-called fake news, which in turn poses a number of challenges to education as a whole and, in particular, to the higher education. University students are required to develop skills and competences in order to protect themselves as individuals and as specialists from both: the influence of the social engineering techniques and the impact of manipulated information (fake content), as well as to provide them with a useful tool set to focus on the right approach to recognizing, assessing and choosing the electronic sources of information and define the information eligibility. The right choice of electronic sources of information, especially when referring to lecture courses, of university students, is an important part in the learning process. Understanding the student’s point of view on how to search for information sources or which information sources can be defined as credible is a quite important part of this study as well.

Keywords: fake news, students, information, higher education

  1. S. Dentchev, I. Peteva, G. Zhablyanova, K. Bosakova, Innovative Model For Practical Training Of Students In A Real Working Environment, EDULEARN17 Proceedings, 9th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, ISBN: 978-84-697-3777-4, P: 9006-9013, 2017.

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