According to a January report from Inside Higher Ed, many college students are now using social media as an important source of news. Algorithm-driven platforms deliver a significant portion of news content, yet fewer than half of students surveyed believe their universities are providing adequate training in digital media literacy.

In response to the need for engaging with opposing viewpoints in the digital age, the University of California, Berkeley is launching a new course, "Openness to Opposing Views," starting this summer. This course is part of the Berkeley Changemaker initiative, a certificate program from Berkeley’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Jennifer Johnson-Hanks, a cultural demographer and executive dean of the College of Letters and Science, emphasizes the value of humble inquiry. “You’ve got to begin with the assumption that you could be wrong, and be willing to entertain a different view,” she said.

Laura Paxton Hassner, who co-designed the course, said, “The course not only teaches the theory behind why it’s important to be open to opposing views and how we might strengthen that practice, but it also helps students to see how different academic disciplines approach this challenge.”

Oliver O’Reilly, Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education, shared his own experiences with critical feedback. “I took the criticism very personally and wasn’t prepared to discuss or respond, I just sort of shut down,” he said.

Lisa García Bedolla, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, added, “What is great about this course is that it acknowledges that being open to opposing views is something that our students need to learn to do; it’s not just ‘natural’ for anyone.”

The Berkeley Changemaker program, which started in 2020 and hit over 10,000 enrollments, thrives on philanthropic donations. The course's aim is to prepare students to appreciate and apply the transferable skills learned in liberal arts to real-world scenarios and the job market, as Johnson-Hanks noted.

Dr. Jyothi Marbin, a course participant, will speak on navigating oppositional viewpoints in her experience with vaccine-skeptical parents. She stresses the need for empathy and understanding, noting, “Be really clear about your values. Don’t compromise on your values and on what you know to be just and right.”

While the course will steer clear of current event debates, its relevance is underscored by a current hiring freeze announced by UC President Michael Drake and the broader context of political discussions affecting the university.