1. Information Literacy
Session One
We're adding information to our understanding of
English and writing!
In this session of the class we will be learning and
practicing information literacy and research skills
that will aid you in your writing process and in
building your writing skills.
2. Instructor Introduction
• Sarah Moore, LRC Assistant
• BA in Communication
with an emphasis in Print Media
• Feel free to contact me any
time during the course!
3. Class Introduction
• We will meet eight times for 1 hour each
• The sessions build on each other
• Therefore, attendance is necessary
• You, as the student, are responsible for
making up any missed lessons or
assignments
• Utilize each other!
4. Homework Assignment
• Each homework assignment is part of,
and works toward, the final project
• You can’t afford to miss a step
• Late work is docked points
• Grading scale is provided so YOU can
keep track of what you earn
6. Information
• What is information?
– knowledge gained through study,
communication, research, instruction,
etc.; factual data
– knowledge communicated or
received concerning a particular fact
or circumstance; news
• What is knowledge?
– facts, truths, or principles, from study,
observation or investigation that are
stored in some external place (books,
the internet, etc.)
7. Information
• Where do we get information?
– World Wide Web
– Radio
– Television
– Magazines
– Newspapers
– Books
– People
8. Literacy
• What is literacy?
– having knowledge or skill in a specified
field
• Reading / writing
• Technology
• Computers
• Media
• Library
• Information
9. Information Literacy
• What is information literacy?
– An information literate individual is
“able to recognize when information
is needed and has the ability to
locate, evaluate, and use the
information effectively.”
• The American Library Association
10. Information Literacy
• Problems of information illiteracy
– Asking wrong questions (and getting
wrong answers)
– Using limited or inappropriate
sources of information
– Using inaccurate or misleading
information
– Accessing outdated information
– Finding incomplete information
… more
11. Information Literacy
• Problems of Information Illiteracy
– Being inefficient on research and
wasting time
– Being disorganized
– Ineffectively communicating the
information
– Using biased resources
– Ineffectively understanding or
evaluating the information
12. Lifelong Learning Skill
• Ultimately, information literate people
are those who have learned how to
learn. They know how to learn
because they know how knowledge is
organized, how to find information,
and how to use information in such a
way that others can learn from them.
They are people prepared for lifelong
learning, because they can always
find the information needed for any
task or decision at hand.
15. Information Literacy Overview
• Define: Define the need, problem,
or question.
• Find: Locate, access, and retrieve
the information from a variety of
print, electronic, and human
information sources.
• Evaluate: Evaluate the credibility,
currency, reliability, validity, and
appropriateness of the
information retrieved.
16. Information Literacy Overview
• Organize: Organize the
information so that it can be
used to meet the information
need, solve the problem, or
answer the question.
• Communicate:
Communicate the
information legally and
ethically using a variety of
channels and to a range of
audiences.
17. Information is knowledge that is:
A. Read in a written form
B. Based on an opinion
C. Gained and communicated
D. Discovered and broadcast
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18. Where can we get information?
A. People
B. Television
C. Internet
D. All of the above
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19. What is the definition of literacy?
A. Being able to read
B. Being able to understand what
you read
C. Having knowledge or skill in a
specified field
D. Having a diploma or degree in a
specified field
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20. Which of these is NOT a benefits
of information literacy:
A. Being organized
B. Finding outdated information
C. Finding many appropriate sources
of information
D. Saving time
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21. Which one of these is a workplace
requirement, according to the
SCANS report:
A. Using computers to process
information
B. Programming a microwave
C. Being artistic
D. Having an outgoing personality
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22. Homework for this Session
• Choose a Topic
– Related to your program of study or
future career field.
– Begin thinking of a question you can
ask about it.
• Visit Credo Reference (in LIRN) to
find one article about your topic.
• Read first 11 pages of packet
• Due next Session!
Why is this in Intro to Writing?
Expanding on chapter 15 of text
Giving them research skills to compliment their writing skills
Preparing them for future classes, to utilize writing skills in research papers
As part of your Introduction to Writing class we will be covering the Topic of Information Literacy
The first step is finding the answer to something is understanding and coming to an agreement on what the something is - to define it
What do the students think Information Literacy Means?
Get as many ideas as you can
Let’s Break the concept down
These are 2 definitions of Information
Components include both getting (gained) and giving (communicated)
Notice both include the word knowledge
What is knowledge exactly and does it differ from information
Knowledge
Facts or Truths
Stored in an external location
Knowledge is the “something”
Information is getting, understanding and communicating that knowledge
Where do you get your information?
All kinds of sources of information
Is all the information you get true?
Reading / Writing
Technology Literacy
At home - Program your VCR or Microwave?
In the workplace - Copy machines, fax machines, Ability to use basic computer software programs, Ability to use the Internet; Ability to use supporting tools; Search engines, File management systems
Computer Literacy
You will be taking a whole class on computer literacy but basically Computer Literacy is having a basic understanding of how a computer works and how it can be used to complete a task.
These are the competencies a computer literate individual should possess: Hardware, Software, Internet, Multimedia, File Management, Security
Media Literacy
Media literacy involves being able to use and communicate in a variety of formats; Audio resources, Visual resources, Graphic resources, Web-based resources, Interactive resources
Includes the ability to use, analyze, evaluate and produce material in a variety of formats
Understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type of media
One component of media literacy is visual literacy; Understand what an image means
Library literacy is
understanding what resources are available in both traditional and virtual libraries
Knowing how to find them and
Knowing how to use them
These are different types of materials you will find in both traditional and the virtual libraries; Books and periodicals, Databases and directories, Catalogs and indexes, Media resources, Reference materials
Information Literacy
This is the recognized definition of Information Literacy as per the American Library Association
Many components
Recognize
Locate
Evaluate
Use
and we will be taking them each in turn
Problems that may occur if we are information illiterate
Biased: Advocates specific point of view. A slanted opinion.
Show Shift Happens Video
Comments?
Pass out Workplace Requirements handout: Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (Skills needed in the workplace)
Comments
Page 8: SCANS Report Handout
The 5 steps in Information Literacy
Page 9: Handout
Define
Know you need to know: What is it that you are looking for?
Define what you need to know (Articulate – elaborate – understand)
Find
Know where, what and how to find the information you need
Evaluate
Determine how good what you find is (we will be going into more depth on these criteria when we reach the evaluation segment but for now…)
Credibility - the trustworthiness (credentials, education, experience, etc.) of an author
Currency – is the information or the sources of the author’s information outdated
Reliability – the information is consistent and dependable
Validity - information is valid if it represents the world as it really is
Appropriateness – information is suitable for what you need it for – research paper vs. quick answer
Organize the information
Even if you find information you still need to compile the information so it can be appropriately used – otherwise it is just random data that means nothing
Communicate
Information is useless unless it is conveyed to those who need it
Ethics - the study of values - good and bad, right and wrong
Channels
Verbally
Written
Electronically
Others???
Field of Research (Your Program):_______________________________
General Topic:_______________________________________________
Specific Focus:_______________________________________________
Aspects:____________________________________________________
Narrowed Research Question:______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________