O B J E C T I V E S

• To help students understand the concept of information literacy [week 1]
• To help students understand the importance of information literacy. [week 1]
• To take students through the steps involved in getting information from the internet. [week 2]
• To help students develop the skill of information literacy using different topics. [week 2]

The student should:

• Be able to recognise when he/she needs information, to identify the nature of the information need, and what the gap is between what he/she knows and what he/she needs.
• Be aware of what different channels and sources are available, be able to identify the appropriate resources for a particular information need and use these resources effectively to acquire the needed information.
• Be able to evaluate information effectively.
• Be able to manage and apply information.
• Be able to synthesize information and use it to create new knowledge and understanding.
• Be aware of the cultural, ethical, economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information.

What is information Literacy?

Information Literacy is the ability to know when there is a need for information, and to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand.

Definitions Of Information Literacy

“Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.”  (ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education 2015)

“the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information to become independent life-long learners” – Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Criteria for Accreditation, Section 5.1.2 [Library and Other Information Resources] Services . 10th ed. Dec. 1996.

“To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, Final Report, 1989

“Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner” (CILIP, 2005).

Jeremy J. Shapiro and Shelley K. Hughes in Educom Review: entitled “Information Literacy as a Liberal Art” Volume 31, Number 2 Release Date: March/April 1996 also define 7 aspects:

In its narrowest sense information literacy includes the practical skills involved in effective use of information technology and information resources, either print or electronic.

Information literacy is a new liberal art which extends beyond technical skills and is conceived as the critical reflection on the nature of information itself, its technical infrastructure and its social, cultural and even philosophical context and impact.

The information literacy curriculum includes:

• Tool literacy – The ability to use print and electronic resources including software.
• Resource literacy – The ability to understand the form, format, location and access methods of information resources.
• Social-structural literacy – Knowledge of how information is socially situated and produced. It includes understanding the scholarly publishing process.
• Research literacy – The ability to understand and use information technology tools to carry our research including discipline-related software.
• Publishing literacy – The ability to produce a text or multimedia report of the results of research.

Synonyms:

• information competency
• information fluency
• information management
• information skills
• inquiry-based learning
• knowledge management
• problem-based learning (PBL)
• resource-based learning

Information Literacy is not:

• being able to use a computer
• being able to read
• or even knowing how to use a search engine

All of those things are important, but it doesn’t help you understand how to find information you need and evaluate it for quality.

Why is information literacy important?

Being information literate helps students maintain a lifelong learning attitude that keeps them abreast of an ever-changing information environment.

FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

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