Information Literacy Awareness Within the Diploma Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate

Abstract

In an information-centred society, information literacy (IL) skills have become increasingly important. The International Baccalaureate (IB) focuses on these skills through an inquirydriven educational approach. This research examined IL’s place within IB’s Diploma Programme. Through case studies at three IB schools, students’, parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of IL’s significance, the need and preferred methods for improving IL and the librarians’ current practice of IL education were analysed.IB is gradually giving the librarian’s role for IL education more visibility but its view of a holistic IL concept, as defined in the literature, remains ambiguous. The case studies revealed low levels of librarian-teacher collaboration, even though in-context learning proved to be the stakeholders’ shared preferred method for IL education. Preconditions are nevertheless favourable for increasing the emphasis placed upon IL as all stakeholders acknowledge IL’s significance and expect to be taught IL skills throughout life but especially within secondary education.