AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides students with the core digital competences defined by the European DigComp 2.2 framework, focusing on the critical search and evaluation of online information, the conscious use of digital tools, computational thinking, basic coding, and an initial ethical and reflective use of Generative Artificial Intelligence.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to develop fundamental digital competences according to the European DigComp 2.2 framework, with particular attention to the critical and responsible use of digital technologies in society and education. Students will become familiar with:

• the basic concepts of computer science and computational thinking;
• the effective and safe use of digital productivity tools;
• strategies for searching, selecting, evaluating, and critically reworking online information;
• key issues related to the reliability of information (fact checking, misinformation, algorithmic bias);
• a practical introduction to coding as a tool for problem solving and data structuring;
• the initial and reflective use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), with attention to ethical, educational, and regulatory implications.

The course promotes a reflective, ethical, and competent approach to digital citizenship, strengthening students’ autonomy in managing information, collaborating online, and interacting responsibly with emerging technologies.

Expected learning outcomes (EQF level 6):
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

•  Describe the fundamental concepts of computer science and computational thinking.
• Use digital tools for productivity, collaboration and information organisation effectively and responsibly.
• Research, select and critically evaluate online information, recognising unreliable content, fake news and misinformation.
• Apply basic coding principles to structure data and solve simple problems.
• Analysing opportunities and risks of the use of generative Artificial Intelligence, including in relation to transparency, ethics and regulations (e.g. AI Act).
• Reflect on the impact of digital technologies in society and in one's educational and professional career.

Expected learning outcomes per area DigComp 2.2:
 

Area 1 - Data and information literacy / Information and data literacy
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Research and identify useful and reliable digital information on the web and open databases.
• Critically evaluate the quality, reliability and relevance of online sources.
• Distinguish verified content from misinformation and manipulation by applying fact-checking strategies.
• Organise and re-use information in a conscious manner, respecting copyright and licences

Area 2 - Communication and collaboration / Communication and collaboration

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Use digital tools for communication and collaboration in academic or professional environments.
• Share digital content in a safe manner and respectful of netiquette principles.
• Adopt inclusive and aware behaviours in online interactions.
• Recognise risks related to one's digital identity and manage one's online reputation.

Area 3 - Digital content creation / Digital content creation

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Produce simple digital content (texts, tables, presentations) using productivity tools.
• Apply basic coding concepts to structure data and solve problems through guided activities.
• Write effective prompts to interact with generative AI tools and evaluate their outputs.
• Understand the concept of intellectual property and respect licences to use content.

Area 4 - Safety / Security

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Recognise risks related to privacy, cyber security and online tracking.
• Apply safe behaviour in the management of their personal data.
• Understand the ethical and regulatory implications of using AI-based tools (including the AI Act).
• Adopt responsible interaction practices with emerging technologies.

Area 5 - Problem solving / Problem solving

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• Analyse simple problems related to information management or digital content.
• Decompose problems into sub-components that can be addressed with digital tools or code base.
• Experiment with Prompt-Based Learning strategies and evaluate AI responses from a metacognitive perspective.
• Adapt digital tools to different contexts to improve the effectiveness of their activities.

At the end of this Course, upon passing the exam, an Open Badge is issued certifying the acquisition of digital skills that look not only at the use of specific tools, but at the needs that every citizen of the information and communication society has: to be informed, to communicate and collaborate, to express themselves, to act safely, to manage problematic situations with technological tools and in digital environments.

TEACHING METHODS

This Module is organized according to two distinct categories of activities:

• Theoretical Lecture: a teaching activity in which the student is predominantly "passive," i.e., attends a theoretical or practical-application lecture in the classroom, or through the tools provided by the teaching portal.
• Practical Lesson (Hands-on experience - Study session): component of "assisted teaching" in which the student is predominantly "active," i.e., performs in first person, guided activities in the laboratory. 

Attendance at lectures, materials used, exercises and textbooks indicated are all indispensable for proper preparation for this discipline. It is therefore advisable (evenif there is NO OBLIGATION) to attend the lectures and tutorials, to carefully read and scrupulously follow the directions provided in the materials made available online on the teaching portal, moving on to the study of a Lesson (except the first one) and any related Study Sessions only after having well understood what was contained in the previous lesson and only after having carried out the activities planned in the previous lesson.

The laboratory will be taught by the lecturer in charge of teaching, assisted by laboratory tutors. Lab activities will be held at the Computer Science Laboratory on the Savona Campus and students will be divided into groups according to the capacity of the laboratory. Students will be required to make a reservation for the lab activity through the course portal. Only those who have made the reservation will be able to access the lab activities. The organization and dates of the laboratory activities will be communicated directly by the lecturer at the beginning of class and will be available on the course portal.

The organization scheme of this Module results in 6 CFUs for a total of 150 hours of study-work for both the Master's Degree in Digital Humanities and the Bachelor's Degree in Media, Communication and Society.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The teaching materials of this Module was designed with reference to the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens DigComp 2.2, which is a public and shared framework for the digital skills needed by any person, to interact with the world, learn and work.

In organizing this training, digital skills have been declined with specific reference to what is the profession of the Digital Humanist. DigComp 2.2 identifies 8 levels of mastery for digital competencies, consistent with the 8 levels indicated by the European Qualifications Framework (EQF); mastery level 6 has been defined for this course, in accordance with what is defined by DM 21A00166 of January 5, 2021 (OJ General Series No. 13 of 18-01-2021).

With reference then to DigComp 2.2, and in accordance with the above, the syllabus of the Module is:
1. Information and data literacy
  1.1 Browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content
  1.2 Evaluating data, information and digital content
  1.3 Managing data, information and digital content
2. Communication and Collaboration
  2.1 Interacting through digital technologies
  2.2 Sharing through digital technologies
  2.3 Engaging in citizenship through digital technologies
  2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies
  2.5 Netiquette
  2.6 Managing digital identity
3. Digital content creation
  3.1 Developing digital content
  3.2 Integrating and re-elaborating digital content
  3.3 Copyright and Licences
  3.4 Programming
4. Safety
  4.1 Protecting devices
  4.2 Protecting personal data and privacy
  4.3 Protecting health and well-being
  4.4 Protecting the environment
5. Problem solving
  5.1 Solving technical problems
  5.2 Identifying needs and technological responses
  5.3 Creatively using digital technologies
  5.4 Identifying digital competence gaps

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Brookshear J. Glenn, Brylow Dennis, Computer Science. An Overview. Ediz. mylab, Pearson Education Inc., 2020
• Giovanni Adorni, Transparencies, notes and exercises, made available on the course portal on AulaWeb.

Software:

• OpenOffice.org: Open Source Project, Italian language version, available at: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html.
• Overleaf.com: the easy-to-use, online, collaborative LaTeX editor, available at: https://overleaf.com/.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

In order to pass the exam, the student must produce the following assignments:

1. Entries in a Disciplinary Thematic Glossary: for each for each lesson, the student is required to create (and gradually enrich and refine) his or her own glossary of disciplinary keywords;
2. Exercises and Reports: carry out the exercises and write the required reports according to the instructions provided by the lecturer within the guided study activities, as indicated in the course portal. 

These deliverables constitute the "Personal Portfolio of Competences" related to this Module. The Portfolio, complete in all its forms, must be submitted to the lecturer via the course portal at least 10 (ten) days prior to the exam date, in the " Competence Portfolio Delivery Area."

Necessary conditions for taking the exam are:

• Online registration for the exam by the deadline (https://servizionline.unige.it/studenti/);
• delivery of the Personal Competence Portfolio within the stipulated deadlines.

The exam is held at the Computer Science Laboratory on the Savona Campus and consists of a Test with multiple-choice and open-ended questions followed by practice tests on a personal computer (see the "Assessment Methods" section).

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The results of the following tests are considered for final assessment:

1. Portfolio assessment;
2. Multiple-choice test with open-ended questions on the teaching program;
3. Practical Test demonstrating knowledge, skills and abilities as outlined in the ‘Training Objectives’ section.

FURTHER INFORMATION

At the end of this Module, upon passing the exam, an Open Badge is issued that certifies the acquisition of digital skills that look not only at the use of specific tools, but at the needs that every citizen of the information and communication society has: being informed, communicating and collaborating, expressing oneself, acting safely, and managing problematic situations with technological tools and in digital environments.

Students with disabilities or SLDs may apply for compensatory/excessive measures for the exam. The modalities will be determined on a case-by-case basis together with the Contact Person for Engineering of the University Committee for the Support of Students with Disabilities and DSA. Students who wish to make such a request are invited to contact the teacher of the teaching by copying the Contact Person (https://unige.it/commissioni/comitatoperlinclusionedeglistudenticondisabilita.html).