IT Carlow Digital Champions 2016

1. Digital Literacy in the Defence Forces:
building a digital library toolkit
IT Carlow Library & Defence Forces Library
with colleagues from the wider Defence Forces & Faculty of
Engineering
This project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration

2. This project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration
This proposal is to enhance the digital learning experience of Defence Force
students when finding, using and managing information during their academic
studies.
Information literacy can be a challenge for students particularly when using digital
resources.
For many of the Defence Forces students, their use of library resources is
primarily off campus thus their learning experience in terms of using library
online resources is challenging.

3. This project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration
Information literacy is a mean to
“empower people in all walks of life to
seek, evaluate, use and create information
effectively to achieve their personal, social,
occupational and educational goals”
(Horton, 2005)

4. IMAGE SOURCE: www.sconul.ac.uk

5. (1). Key areas proposed for inclusion include the
following (1) How to find relevant information in
ibraryHotind relevant information in library
catalogues and Discovery Solutions
(2)How to build and construct a search term when
interrogating online information
(3)How to evaluate different types of information and
interpret their appropriateness for research
(4)How to use information ethically including the
importance of referencingThis project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration
(1) How to find relevant information in library catalogues and Discovery
Solutions
(2) How to build and construct a search term when interrogating online
information
(3) How to evaluate different types of information and interpret their
appropriateness for research
(4) How to use information ethically including the importance of referencing
(5) How to avoid plagiarism.

6. We will create the toolkit, using a mixed media approach,
making it available on an online platform, built on
evaluation, consultation and feedback, showcased at a
training day in the Curragh and with our Centre for Teaching
and Learning, in such a way that it can evolve and develop
beyond the life of this project.
This project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration

7. With sincere thanks to our colleagues in the Centre for Teaching and
Learning, the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and
Learning, the Defence Forces & Faculty of Engineering.
Best of luck to everyone else working on a project. We look forward to
working with you!
This project is made possible by the financial contribution from the Teaching and
Learning Enhancement Fund (Driving Enhancement of Digital Capacity for Impact in Irish
Higher Education) 2015.
Transformation Through Collaboration

8. References
• Horton, Forest Woody (2008) Understanding information literacy: a primer; an easy-to-read, non-
technical overview explaining what information literacy means, designed for busy public policy-
makers, business executives, civil society administrators and practicing professionals; 2008 -
157020E.pdf. [Online]. 2008. Available from:
http://www.uis.unesco.org/Communication/Documents/157020E.pdf [Accessed: 23 February
2016].
• www.sconul.ac.uk – more information on the Seven Pillar Model
• Brabazon, T. (2007). The University of Google : Education in a (post) information age. Aldershot:
Ashgate.
• Bruce, C. (1997). Seven Faces of Information Literacy in Higher Education. Australia: AUSLIB Press.
• CONUL Advisory Committee on Information Literacy (ACIL). (2004). Integrating Information Literacy
into the Curriculum. From
http://www.library.nuigalway.ie/media/jameshardimanlibrary/content/documents/support/CONUL
ACILbookletfinal.pdf ( accessed 24/02/2016)