Making Informed Decisions: The Role of Information Literacy in Ethical and Effective Engineering Design

Abstract

Engineering designers must make evidence-based decisions when applying the practical tools and techniques of their discipline to human problems. Information literacy provides a structure for determining information gaps, locating appropriate and relevant information, applying that information effectively, and documenting and managing the knowledge created in the design process. It also provides the means through which designers may consider messy transdisciplinary problems in holistic ways and enables student designers to develop empathy through the creation of a context for understanding the socio-economic, cultural, and geographical perspectives of those who will benefit from, or otherwise interact with, their designs. Critical information literacy provides a framework for questioning the assumptions implicit in information gathered from traditional sources and identifying the voices not heard in those sources. The integration of information literacy concepts into engineering design has the potential to increase the quality and appropriateness of solutions and the empathy of participating students.