What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy is the ability to think critically about information. It is a fundamental part of critical inquiry in the Information Age.
The information literate student can: 1
Why is information literacy important?
The ability to locate, evaluate and use information has always been important, but in today's Information Age, with the explosion of online library and Internet resources, these abilities take on a new urgency. Having more information from which to choose can make research more difficult rather than easier. Often the easiest information to find is unfiltered or unreliable, making information literacy skills more important than ever.
Information literacy skills are important for students´ academic, work and personal lives. In academia, discipline specific information is constantly changing, and much of what students learn in class will become outdated. An information literate student is a lifelong learner, with the skills necessary to continually find and evaluate information about new developments in an academic discipline. In an information economy, students will need information literacy skills to succeed in the work force, whether they are creating a marketing proposal for a new product or looking for current medical research to treat a patient. Information literacy skills also enrich students personal and civic lives. For example, students will draw upon these skills to apply for government services, buy a car, participate in elections, make informed health care decisions for themselves and their families, and manage their finances.
How is information literacy taught?
Students are more likely to learn the concepts and skills in the context of an academic course when they have an information problem to solve. For that reason, information literacy best practices recommend integrating the teaching of information literacy into the curriculum. Ideally, information literacy competencies are sequenced and integrated into the curriculum of an academic department. As students move through their major, they master increasingly sophisticated competencies.
What do librarians offer for curriculum planning?
On a programmatic level, librarians are available to map information literacy competencies onto an existing departmental curriculum, or to work with departments to build those sequenced competencies into a revised curriculum.
How can librarians support faculty in the teaching of information literacy?
Librarians are available to assist faculty in teaching information literacy skills to their students in a number of ways. These methods, which can be combined, include:
How do I know if students are learning?
Any information literacy program will include an evaluation of student learning. The form this evaluation takes will be developed in consultation with the faculty member.
What is happening at UT?
Please see Campus Information Literacy Initiatives for program descriptions and updates.
What are some programs at other universities?
California State University System Information Competence Initiative
Florida: Florida International University
University of Connecticut General Education Guidelines
Further reading:
1 (Adapted from the Association of College and Research Libraries "Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education")
