Information Literacy Defined

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Information Literacy Defined

• SWITCH Information Literacy
• 1st Annual
• Teaching In-Service, 2002

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What is Information Literacy?
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• The ALA Definition
• Information literacy is a set of abilities that
  enables an individual to recognize when
  information is needed and have the ability to
  effectively locate, evaluate, and use the needed
  information."
• American Library Association. Presidential
  Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report.
  (Chicago American Library Association, 1989).
  http//www.ala.org/acrl/nili/ilit1st.html

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• . . . a new liberal art that extends from
  knowing how to use computers and access
  information to critical reflection on the nature
  of information itself, its technical
  infrastructure, and its social, cultural and even
  philosophical context and impact"
• Shapiro, Jeremy J. and Shelley K. Hughes.
  "Information Literacy as a Liberal Art". Educom
  Review. 3.2. Mar./Apr. 1996. http//www.educause.e
  du/pub/er/review/reviewarticles/31231.html

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• Information literacy is the ability to locate,
  evaluate, manage and use information from a range
  of sources for problem solving, decision making
  and research.
• Bruce, C. and P.C Candy (1995). Developing
  information literate graduates prompts for good
  practice. The Learning Link information literacy
  in practice. D. Booker. Adelaide, AUSLIB press
  245-252.

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• Ability to utilize information technology
• Knowledge of information sources
• Knowledge of information-seeking processes
• Ability to organize and control information
• Ability to use info to develop a new knowledge
  base
• Ability to use info to extend ones knowledge
  base
• Ability to use info wisely for the good of others

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• Understanding Info Lit
• Faculty often confuse it with information
  management
• Many associate it with accessing online
  information (not other formats)
• Incorporates what we do now . . .the teaching of
  LIBRARY RESEARCH SKILLS and more. . . .

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Why is Information Literacy Important?
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The New Reality

• Multiple Catalogs and Databases
• The Library and Its Various Resources
• Print, electronic, some full-text, some not
• The Internet as Its Own (Mega) Resource
• Multiple Access Points
• Many Other Access Issues

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Why Is Information Literacy Important?

• Equips individuals to be self-directed, lifelong
  learners
• Goes beyond knowing how to use a computer or
  learning one specific interface
• Highlights the global nature of information
• Includes critical evaluation of information
• Allows for transfer of knowledge
• Allows for informed decision making

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AND,
our students still need help!
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What Do We Expect Our Students To Know?
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• What are the competencies or standards associated
  with being information literate?
• Seven Faces of Information Literacy

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or Outcomes
Standards
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Two Sets of Competencies

• For State of Wisconsin
• Information Literacy Competencies Criteria for
  Academic Libraries in Wisconsin
• http//www.wla.lib.wi.us/waal/infolit/ilcc.html
• Put forth by the WAAL Information Literacy
  Committee and adopted by the WAAL as ofOctober
  9, 1998

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Two Sets of Competencies

• National
• ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards
  for Higher Education
• http//www.ala.org/acrl/ilcomstan.html
• These standards were approved by the Board of
  Directors of ACRL on January 18, 2000, at the
  Midwinter Meeting of the American Library
  Association in San Antonio, Texas.

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• Working standards into the curriculum
• Information literacy is not a discrete set of
  skills learned once, but a process of locating,
  organizing and using info
• Represents a shift in thinking and use of
  libraries/info which must be reinforced on campus
• Is crucial to creating a successful workforce for
  todays jobs

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• Progress Integrating Standards into the
  Curriculum
• National Information Literacy Survey (report
  documenting success/progress throughout the U.S.)
• Emailed to 2700 institutions in May 2001
• 710 institutions or 26 responded
• Sonntag, Gabriela. CRL News. (November 2001) 62
  996-1001. Also at, http//www.ala.org/acrl/nils.
  html

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• Highlights from the National Report
• Types of Institutions, Definition of Info Lit,
• Info Lit Programs Implementation of
• Standards on Campus
• Most libraries have an accepted definition of
  information literacy
• Many libraries now formally accept ACRL or other
  standards for their state
• Many working to incorporate standards in
  individual classes

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• Highlights from the National Report
• 80 of 664 respondents have a formal program
• Many with programs under development
• 123 of 710 have an info lit requirement on campus
• 48 of programs in place, are 3 years old or less
• 29 are 4-7 year old programs
• Different campus groups working on this but MAIN
  group for implementation of standards in
  curriculum is librarians

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• Alverno College Library
• From Classes--Department--to Campus
• Current classes assignments
• Good faculty contacts
• Library class assignment improvements
• Our professional development as teachers
• Identify WAAL outcomes for our classes
• Web tutorial to complement our work and ensure
  certain competencies are met

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How Do We Effectively Teach Information
Literacy?
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A Few Techniques . . . From the Literature

• Understand and plan for information literacy
  within the library first
• Move beyond teaching techniques and tools to
  teaching concepts
• Build upon what already works
• Incorporate activities/active learning to
  motivate students and stimulate critical thinking
  
• Collaborate with faculty to make both small and
  big changes

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• Help faculty administration know the importance
  of info lit http//www.ala.org/acrl/nili/know
• Shared responsibility of all educators and
  information providers
• Must be integrated into courses at all levels to
  provide reinforcement of skills

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Use Different Modes of Instruction

• One-On-One Reference Desk
• In-Class or Group Instruction
• Tours (in-person online)
• Instructional Web Pages/Web Tutorials
• Library Guides (print or web-form)

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• Look at Model Programs
• Florida International University (FIU) Program
  (Patricia Ianuzzi)
• Earlham College Program (Tom Kirk)
• CSU Information Competency Project
• UW-Parkside Information Literacy Program
• UT-Austin TILT (Texas Information Literacy
  Tutorial)

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The Three to Readin 2002
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• Iannuzzi, Patricia. Faculty Development and
  Information Literacy Establishing Campus
  Partnerships. Reference Services Review 26, 3
  4 (Fall/Winter 1998) 97-112, 116.
• 2. Hardesty, Larry. Faculty Culture and
  Bibliographic Instruction An Exploratory
  Analysis. Library Trends 44,2 (Fall 1995)
  339-367.
• 3. Bruce, Christine Susan. The Phenomenon of
  Information Literacy. Higher Education Research
  and Development. 17, 1 (1998) 25-43.

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Acknowledgments

• Quigley, Jennifer. Rochester Regional Library
  Council. Information Literacy and Higher
  Education. (July, 2001). http//www.rrlc.org/infol
  it/infolit-highered/index.htm
• White, Peggy. Information Literacy Powerpoint
  presentation, 4/6/99. University of Calgary
  Library. http//www.ucalgary.ca/library/ILG/infoli
  tcoord/index.htm