Building a Better Mousetrap Graduate:

1
Building a Better Mousetrap Graduate

• Information Literacy in Your Syllabus

Carla List St Josephs University January
2005 http//faculty.plattsburgh.edu/carla.list
2
What IS Information Literacy?

• ALA definition
• Ability to recognize when information is needed
  and to locate, evaluate, and use effectively
  the needed information

3
The Standards

• Determines the nature and extent of the
  information needed
• Accesses needed information effectively and
  efficiently
• Evaluates information and its sources critically
  and incorporates selected information into his or
  her knowledge base and value system
• Uses information effectively to accomplish a
  specific purpose
• Understands many of the economic, legal and
  social issues surrounding the use of information
  and accesses and uses information ethically and
  legally

Whew!
4
Middle States Definition of Information Literacy

• an intellectual framework for identifying,
  finding, understanding, evaluating and using
  information. It includes determining the nature
  and extent of needed information accessing
  information effectively and efficiently
  evaluating critically information and its
  sources incorporating selected information in
  the learners knowledge base and value system
  using information effectively to accomplish a
  specific purpose understanding the economic,
  legal and social issues surrounding the use of
  information and information technology and
  observing laws, regulations, and institutional
  policies related to the access and use of
  information.

Whew!
Characteristics of Excellence in Higher
Education Eligibility Requirements and Standards
for Accreditation, 2002
5
Components of Information Literacy

• Identifying a need for
• Finding, using
• appropriate tools,
• Evaluating information
• Using
• Understanding using
• ethically legally

6
Information Literacy for Life

• Understands information as a concept
• Understands how information can be manipulated by
  technology
• Sees information as commodity when appropriate
• Uses it properly

7
Information Literacy Across the Curriculum

• Information culture throughout campus
• Not one class session or course
• NOT JUST THE LIBRARY
• All courses, departments
• Campus standards
• General Education Requirements
• Program requirements

8
Components of Any Syllabus

• Objectives of course
• CONTENT
• Supporting materials
• Required/recommended
• Different formats and accessibilities
• Assessment
• Assignments
• (Exams)

9
Focus of Your Objectives

• CONTENT
• Is there a TMI point?
• Discovery and synthesis
• Less controlled
• Student-centered learning
• More PLANNING
• Active-learning techniques
• Do assignment yourself beforehand

10
Components of Any Assignment

• Goals
• Explained to students
• Subject field goal(s)
• Information literacy goal(s)
• Process
• Entire or partial focus of assignment?
• Possible to break into various assignments?
• Product
• Clearly identified audience

11
Setting Goals (Objectives)

• Name objectives of course/class/ assignment
• HOW MANY IN ONE CLASS OR ASSIGNMENT?
• Blooms Taxonomy (handout)
• Work backwards so assessment easy
• What do you want students to get?
• Is there a way to measure their comprehension?
• Objectives for I.L. Instruction (handout)
• Use right from outline

12
Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.
- Jonathan Swift
13
Workshop

• Work