Information Literacy In Context Research Articles

Workplace information literacy in context: scale development and validation

Workplace information literacy in context: scale development and validation

The role of skepticism among adolescents’ online information literacy skills

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the role skepticism plays among adolescents’ online information literacy skills.Design/methodology/approachThe authors provide the conceptual grounding to operationalize and measure the notion of skepticism in an online information literacy context. Inspired by an existing measure known as the Skepticism Scale (Hurtt, 2010), the authors made substantial revisions to the scale to target middle school and high school students’ skepticism in six distinct, but related factors: questioning mind; search for knowledge; suspension of judgment; self-esteem; interpersonal understanding; and autonomy. The authors provide preliminary evidence of validity and reliability of the revised Skepticism Scale using Exploratory Factor Analysis and performed multiple linear regression using the Skepticism Scale measures to predict an adolescents’ online information literacy skills.FindingsThe Skepticism Scale was found to produce internally consistent constructs for all six measures. Three of the six measures were related to online information literacy skills, including the search for knowledge, interpersonal understanding and questioning mind.Originality/valueThis paper attempts to examine the potentially positive role of skepticism in information literacy skills among adolescents.

Developing librarians’ teaching practice: a case study of learning advisors sharing their knowledge

Increasingly, tertiary librarians are required to teach as part of their role. There is recognition that ongoing professional development (PD) is required in teaching and learning as this is not generally provided as part of formal library qualifications. Using an education design-based research approach, this collaboration aimed to enhance the teaching practice of liaison librarians to enable more consistent review, planning, and design of information literacy workshops. As part of a wider PD programme for liaison librarians at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), learning advisors developed and taught three workshops. The learning advisors were chosen by the library leadership due to their teaching expertise and adaptability. They provide embedded, academic literacy support for students tailored to specific assessment guidelines and marking criteria. The aim was to share examples of learner advisor practice underpinned by relevant theory and applied directly to an information literacy context. Liaison librarians were exposed to workshop strategies to develop appropriate learning outcomes, content, and pedagogical approaches for planning ongoing teaching. They had opportunities to assess and evaluate their current knowledge and skills and consider new approaches. These sessions enabled the team to go forward with shared knowledge to guide their workshop design to create more consistent, sustainable, and measurable content. Another outcome was the co-development of workshop design principles which have been applied to the redevelopment of workshops. As this process is replicable, the value of sharing knowledge and expertise between teams such as learning advisors and liaison librarians is worth exploring further.

Information Literacy in Context: Skill Development in Pre- and In-Service School Librarians

ABSTRACT Information literacy is a crucial topic in the library science profession. The information needs and perceptions of the information literacy of preservice and early-career school librarians were explored in this research using a survey and interviews distributed nationally over a 5-month time frame. These participants, who have been employed in the field for 5 years or less or are currently completing coursework, were queried about their perceptions of information literacy and how the profession had changed through the course of their graduate work and early-career experiences. Participants felt well prepared and believed their schooling met their need for information in the areas of readers’ advisory and the use of copyright and fair use and for for teaching these topics to students. They also reported that they were well prepared for teaching with educational technology. Participants were least prepared in the area of facilitation of classroom teacher/school librarian collaborations, even though this aspect of their library school experience was highly emphasized. Once graduates were in a library position, they met their information needs by reaching out to mentors, more experienced school librarians, and their professional learning community.

The evolution of a micro-credential


 
 
 In 2017, key representatives from the University microcredentials team and the Library collaborated to develop, deliver and embed into curriculum, digital literacy micro-credentials in multiple course shells via the University’s new learning management system. The first microcredential delivered was Information Literacy. This credential aimed to address student needs to recognize when information was needed and strengthen their ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively (ALA Clearing House, 2017). Students who earned the microcredential were rewarded with a digital badge that outlined the achieved learning outcomes and recognition of this award was reflected on their official academic transcript. In addition, the badges were shared on social media platforms like LinkedIn as a way to demonstrate new skills and engage prospective employers. In 2019, the original credential was reviewed to ensure relevancy. A subsequent eight-week sprint process was initiated. The review process sought feedback from various stakeholders that included the RMIT Creds team learning designer, the subject matter experts (SMEs) from the Library and student reviewers. Results from the review process for the Information Literacy credential highlighted key changes to content and learning outcomes to reduce confusion for students and ensure learning outcomes addressed the module content directly. In addition, a shift away from a traditional educational context of information literacy to a broader professional context was also recommended to ensure relevancy to industry.
 
 

Claire McGuinness. The Academic Teaching Librarian’s Handbook. London, UK: Facet Publishing, 2021. 279p. Paper, $76.33 (ISBN 978-1-78330-462-2).

In The Academic Teaching Librarian’s Handbook , Claire McGuinness, faculty in the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University College Dublin, offers comprehensive insights into different topics that are relevant to instruction librarians. These topics include the changing context of information literacy, social media and the rise of “fake news,” digital learning, and professional identity. The author also discusses the value of an articulated personal teaching philosophy, the importance of self-analysis and self-reflection, developing a teaching role as a new instruction librarian, and leadership and advocacy skills. McGuinness’ academic narrative style, set to small black font, is supported by a wide array of citations and data from reports and surveys. In addition, each topic offers “personal reflection points” along with figures and tables that highlight important details. The chapters conclude with exercises inviting readers to reflect on the content covered through different hypothetical scenarios.

Complex Interdisciplinary Approach to Modelling Information Literacy Education

Purpose/Thesis: This paper identifies the most important theoretical issues and frameworks that may serve as a basis for models of teaching information literacy.Approach/Methods: The paper reviews relevant subject literature published between 1990s and the present to outline the disciplinary context of information literacy in order to identify concepts that might be used to model teaching of information literacy.Results and conclusions: In the light of convergences and overlaps between different literacies, this paper considers various pedagogic approaches – phenomenographic, sociocultural, and discourse analytical, to combine them with the cognitive approach to information literacy. The literature review shows that all these approaches might contribute to a theoretical foundation of information literacy across different age groups and on different levels of education.Originality/Value: Teaching information literacy is examined from a cross-disciplinary perspective with a focus on information science and pedagogy.

Business information literacy integration into a freshman summer bridge course for underrepresented minorities

ABSTRACTThis article presents the collaboration between a professor of management and a faculty librarian within a summer bridge course designed to provide underrepresented minority students with advanced preparation prior to their freshmen year at Purdue University. The course is a combination of academic preparation, applied life skills, and information literacy to make the course relevant to the students in the short and long term. The instructors detail how the course is designed around a problem-based framework to facilitate improved learning of relevant tools and critical thinking skills within a business information literacy context.

Wikipedia: the difference between information acquisition and learning knowledge

This paper attempts to define Wikipedia in an information literacy context by providing an analysis of learning knowledge and Wikipedia’s structure. The distribution of learning in the digital information age is a core topic for scholarly communication. It is highly relevant to students, citizens and instructors in their roles as users of content and as creators of content. Even though it appears to be far removed from traditional publishing in the print world, many students, citizens and instructors use digital information tools to share aspects of their works in a way that is defined as publishing. Understanding the difference between information acquisition and learning knowledge are essential in educational settings.

From paper to pixels: using Google Forms for collaboration and assessment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the use of Google Forms in the university library instruction classroom. Librarians at the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) began using Google Forms as a way of increasing active learning and as an instrument of formative assessment. The paper describes the information literacy context at the UIC and gives examples of best practices for using Google Forms in library instruction. Design/methodology/approach – The authors collaborated with other instruction librarians at their institution to develop Google Forms for use in library instruction sessions and used them primarily in sessions geared toward first-year students. Findings – Google Forms provides an easy and inexpensive way to incorporate both active learning and assessment in library instruction sessions. Students and faculty were receptive to their use in the library classroom. These early findings will be incorporated into the longer assessment study by the authors, currently underway. Originality/value – While Google Forms has heretofore been used in primary and secondary school settings, it is only now being more widely adopted for use by instruction librarians at the university level. This paper will be of value to those who wish to use Google Forms in library instruction in college and university settings, among others.

Where Preschool Children Acquire Information About a Topic that they Enjoy: Giftedness-based Study

The purpose of this paper is to uncover some of the psychological context of information literacy. It focuses on the connection between cognitive dispositions (IQ) and information behavior of preliterate children. The results show that pre-school children are able to extract information on subjects which are interesting for them from all available sources – ranging from traditional media such as books or magazines, modern digital media (computer, DVD) to natural conditions in which children live (city, nature). Surprisingly, the radio is used very rarely. If we compare subjective replies supported by the method of graphic scaling, we can see that gifted preschoolers obtain statistically significantly smaller share of information from TV or computer. It is also true that gifted children gain information on subjects interesting for them from a wider range of various media sources, they do not stick only to one of them (they do not sit “only” in front of a TV or a computer).

Faculty-Librarian Relationships in the Information Literacy Context: A Content Analysis of Librarians' Expressed Attitudes and Experiences

Cyberspace offers a glimpse of librarians' unscripted ideas on how best to work with faculty in designing and implementing information literacy opportunities. Information literacy listservs, in particular, provide librarians opportunities to discuss teaching styles, technology, classroom management, and other topics, in the context of their relationships with teaching faculty.

Information is social: information literacy in context

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss traditional conceptions of information literacy as created within an academic context to address information needs within this context. It seeks to present alternative realities of information use outside the academic sector, and to suggest that information literacy instruction within academia does not go far enough in preparing students for the information society beyond university. The aim is then to follow this by discussion of appropriate information literacy models to prepare young people for information use in a variety of workplace environments.Design/methodology/approachAs an example of the application of appropriate information literacy models for successful workplace information use, the Edmonton Social Planning Council youth internship program is examined through a case study of two successful internship projects.FindingsThis youth internship program provides young people with skills that are highly relevant to their information environment outside the academic sector. It provides them with a framework for interacting with information that can be applied in any academic or non‐academic setting in which they find themselves.Practical implicationsThe program described could serve as inspiration for other public, private or nonprofit organizations to collaborate on similar initiatives. It also serves to remind academic librarians of core information best practices that must be conveyed through library instruction if students are to become good information citizens.Originality/valueWhile information literacy instruction receives much attention in the academic sphere, it is necessary to take a broader view of information use throughout the lifetime of information users and the instruction required to prepare students adequately. The paper focuses on these issues.

Evaluation and Assessment in Information Literacy: WASSAIL as a tool to support diverse methods

In the higher education Information Literacy context, there is growing interest and requirements for evaluation of librarian teaching and assessment of student learning. This session will explore these issues and use WASSAIL as a sample tool to consider for these purposes. WASSAIL is open source software developed at the Augustana Campus Library of the University of Alberta to support the evaluation and assessment requirements of Augustana's Information Literacy program. WASSAIL was the 2010 ACRL Instruction Section Innovation Award winner. Session participants are requested to bring laptops to interact with WASSAIL in the hands-on part of the workshop. Participants can bring questions they would like to enter into evaluation or assessment tools, or sample questions will be provided. A diversity of methods will be discussed: evaluation tools such as end of "one-shot" questionnaires and general surveys, as well as assessment methods such as in-class quizzes, pre-/post-tests, and more.

ENGLISH

The paper emphasises the sense-making approach to the concept and practice of information literacy (IL). After discussing the meaning and purpose of IL, passing references are made to the IL standards, models, and rubrics. The information search process is emphasised in this paper. Nature and types of knowledge and learning have also been discussed. Expectations from INFLIBNET, vision of the National Knowledge Commission (NKC), and the UNESCO's Education for All, and Information for All Programmes have also been put into the context of IL. Finally, the paper suggests that IL programmes must be based upon the complexity and diversity of information communities, and cultural hegemony and intellectual imperialism should not be allowed to prevail. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/djlit.28.2.161

Towards an understanding of information literacy in context

Information literacy (IL) has been described as a core literacy. However emerging empirical research indicates that the phenomenon will have different characteristics in different contexts and will be played out in culturally different ways. This paper reviews the nature and growth of IL to ascertain how researchers understand the phenomenon in various contexts. It then considers the contradictions across contexts and the importance of context to understanding the complexity of IL. The conclusion is that a focus on various contexts, not yet explored, will result in the need for a new agenda for IL research.

Information Literacy: Teaching Now for Year 2000

In the broader context of information literacy (IL), library and information science literature recently has seen an increased interest among policymakers, teachers, media specialists, and other professionals in defining and formulating basic skills and outcome measures of IL programs for students, teachers, and parents or care givers. In particular, within the context of the National Goals for Education 2000 and the evolving World Digital Library System, researchers have an opportunity and responsibility to invest in research and education in the area of IL so that every person may effectively access an increasingly complex information workspace. In this article, Ercegovac reports a case study in IL and its underpinning design. She defines and explicates information literacy skills for college students, which is the first step toward understanding the Information Literacy Infrastructure.

The problem of currency: Information literacy in the context of Australia as a learning society

In recent years, the term information literacy has come to stand for a cluster of abilities that are required to cope with, and to take advantage of, the unprecedented amounts of information which surround—and at times overwhelm—us in our daily life and work. In Australia, as in other advanced industrialised countries, the attainment of information literacy has become a major educational goal.However information literacy is not simply a response to the demands of the information society, but an important set of intellectual accomplishments that can aid in the realisation of the ‘learning society’. This is an ideal whereby all members of society would have lifelong learning opportunities which are fulfilled through access to a limitless variety of agencies and experiences in addition to those provided by the formal education system.Using the theme of ‘currency’ as an organising principle, this paper explores six aspects of information literacy in the Australian context. It then passes to a consideration of the notion of Australia as a learning society, and presents a three part model of what is required—from the perspective of an individual—for the learning society to become a reality. Finally, the six aspects of information literacy are superimposed onto the three-part model, and it is argued that individual attainment of information literacy—so necessary in the context of the information society—is also necessary (but not in itself sufficient) for people to be able to participate fully and actively in the emerging learning society.This paper was originally given as a keynote address at the first Australian Conference on ‘Information literacy: The Australian agenda’ held at Adelaide, 2–4 December 1992.