The digital lab aims to increase digital knowledge and skills among students. Theoretical aspects, including the development of both problem solving skills and relational and behavioral skills that allow you to effectively use digital tools that are now commonplace. These are both basic technical knowledge, such as setting an automatic index in a document or the production of charts via a spreadsheet, and general skills ranging from the data privacy to following a netiquette in using social media; or for example how to search efficentlty information online to create digital content. The students will learn how to browse, search, filter and evaluate data, information and digital content. In particular, they will be able to find data online (for example by creating online surveys), Office suite (advanced features), collaboration in the cloud, creation and editing of video-infographics, basic use of CMS such as WordPress. Knowledge will be acquired through lectures, exercises, project work and verified through a final suitability test.

Knowledge and understanding: Theoretical aspects, including the development of both problem solving skills and relational and behavioral skills that allow you to effectively use digital tools that are now commonplace. These are both basic technical knowledge, such as setting an automatic index in a document or the production of charts via a spreadsheet, and general skills ranging from the data privacy to following a netiquette in using social media; or for example how to search efficentlty information online to create digital content. The students will learn how to browse, search, filter and evaluate data, information and digital content. In particular, they will be able to find data online (for example by creating online surveys), Office suite (advanced features), collaboration in the cloud, creation and editing of video-infographics, basic use of CMS such as WordPress Applying knowledge and understanding: The aim is to acquire and improve basic skills in information and communication technologies: the use of technological tools to find, evaluate, store, produce, present, and exchange information as well as to communicate and participate in collaborative projects via the Internet. In other words, it is intended to enhance the student's ability to use the computer and use it to produce a small research project that involves the preparation of a document, use a program to analyze and present data, learn how to use other collaborative tools, like for example sharing and working a document on Google Drive. The student will then have the ability to use the most recent digital tools to develop a project work collaboratively and results oriented. Making judgements: Students will develop skills in analyzing digital systems and how they can be put into practice in a research project. They are expected to be able to discuss and evaluate the essential elements of the technology tools presented and in the security and risks of using them, for example, they will be able to understand the threats in sharing information on the Web and browsing the Internet. Communication skills: The student will have developed the ability to understand and use the main terms and concepts of digital systems. Students will be able to communicate their ideas, proposals, analyzes, and critical reasoning related to issues in the digital world in a more effective and appropriate way. Learning skills: this course helps to enhance students' understanding skills by providing them with the tools to understand how the main digital systems and tools work in practice, develop problem solving skills by engaging in the resolution and dissemination of a research project through documents , graphs and digital presentations.

The program consists of a theoretical part with an introduction to the terminology and basic concepts, the practical part is intended to enhance the use of technological tools to find, evaluate, preserve, produce, present and exchange information as well as to communicate and participate in collaborative projects via the Internet. The following points are expected to be developed: o research question; o online search for data (or data collection from a survey with Google Forms); o setting up and using a collaborative environment on shared folders in Dropbox / OneDrive; o data analysis with Excel (frequency distributions, pivot tables); o write research results in a short report in Word, complete with tables and charts, structured and formatted in a professional manner (intended for a hypothetical client); o write a much more agile and informative presentation, intended for a blog that collects all presentations (using WordPress); o if necessary, promote the social media blog using specific tools;

The material is made available on the e-learning platform within which students will find updated handouts and slides and indications of the reference text.

The teaching methods used during the course are as follows: - teaching (online / on campus). - exercises (online / on campus).

The assessment of student will take place through a written test and through an oral exam. The written test weighs 50% on the final grade and concerns the use of the digital tools presented in the course to develop a written resarch topic. The test will be evaluated as pass/fail. The oral exam weighs 50% on the final grade and concerns the entire course programme. During the oral exam the student will be required to show that he/she knows and understands notions and principles of digital tools and that he/she is able to apply them to practical cases. The final exam will be aimed at assessing both basic technical knowledge and general skills ranging from the data gathering to the creation of digital contents (50%) and the ability to use digital tools ( 50%).

Top level mark in the course /good knowledge in some computer systems topics (although out of the scope of the course) constitute a prerequisite for final paper assignment.

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