About the Information Literacy Requirement
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant" Mitchell Kapor
The first-year students you will work with in your Signature Course know how to get answers from the Internet, but their ability to find other types of resources and to think critically about all of the information they find is a skill that has yet to be honed. The Signature Courses provide a unique opportunity to ensure that all first-year students receive instruction in basic research and information evaluation skills, otherwise known as information literacy skills, that will serve them throughout their time at the University. The Libraries can support your teaching and prepare your students for success in college by helping you to integrate information literacy into your course.
About Learning Outcomes
These information literacy learning outcomes, based on the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards, were submitted to the Dean of Undergraduate Studies in 2007 and have been accepted for the Signature Courses.
The learning outcomes are written to be applicable across disciplines, for a variety of assignments and over time. The practical application of these learning outcomes will ensure that students will be able to understand the nature of information and how it is created and disseminated; recognize the utility of scholarly encyclopedias for finding background information; effectively search the Library Catalog and databases to find books and articles, recognizing the difference between popular and scholarly sources; evaluate sources, including web sites; and create bibliographies.
Create and execute a research strategy (ACRL Information Literacy Standards 1 and 2)
Students will be able to:
- Determine the type of information they need (ex: background info, critical reviews, etc.)
- Determine where the information would be found (ex: articles, books, web sites)
- Choose the appropriate tool for locating the information (encyclopedia, article database, Library Catalog, Web search engine)
- Brainstorm effective search terms
- Combine search terms using Boolean logic
Critically evaluate information (ACRL Information Literacy Standard 3)
Students will be able to:
- Evaluate web sites by critically analyzing audience, authority, bias, currency and accuracy
- Evaluate "published" information by critically analyzing audience, authority, bias and currency
- Determine whether information is from a scholarly source (ex: journal) or popular source (ex: magazine or newspaper)
- Explain the meaning of peer-review
Use Citations (ACRL Information Literacy Standard 5)
Students will be able to:
- Identify the elements of a citation (ex: journal title, volume, author, etc.)
- Distinguish among citation types for different types of material (ex: journal article, book, newspaper)
How We Can Support Your Course
There are a variety of approaches to teaching the Signature Course information literacy competencies. You may request any of these approaches based on your preferences and what works best for your discipline. Regardless of the method of delivery, best practices indicate that students learn best when teaching is tied to a specific research assignment and timed when students have an information need. Popular approaches include:
Library instruction sessions
If your course has a research component, schedule an instruction session to have your students work hands-on with a librarian. We will work with you to ensure the session is scheduled after students have chosen topics and when you can be present. Use the request form to schedule a session.
Exercises/assignments and tailored research guides
Librarians, in consultation with you, will develop research guides tailored to your course and assignments, as well as create exercises that will teach information literacy skills. These exercises are assigned by you as part of the course workload. We are also available to assist you in the development of research assignments. Browse the Toolkit for assignments and exercises and request a version tailored to your class, or use the form to request a resource you don't see in the toolkit.
Alternatives to the research paper
Your course does not have to include a research paper to incorporate research and information evaluation skills. Librarians are available to assist you in the development of alternatives to the research paper that teach information literacy skills and deepen understanding of the course content. Browse the Toolkit for alternatives to the research paper and request a version tailored to your course, or use the form to request a resource you don't see in the toolkit.
Online tutorials
We have tutorials available to teach your students the basics such as finding articles and books, as well as more complex concepts such as how to avoid plagiarism and recognize the elements of a citation. Browse the toolkit for tutorials you can incorporate into your course. If you have an idea for a new tutorial, please contact Library Instruction Services at lib-instruction@utlists.utexas.edu.
Embedded Librarians
Add a librarian to your course (through Blackboard or any other course management system). We will provide research assistance to your students over the course of the semester. Use the form to request a librarian.
Training for Teaching Assistants
Librarians are available to work with TAs from lecture-format courses to provide training, materials and exercises which support the teaching of these information literacy learning outcomes within the discussion sections. Contact Library Instruction Services at lib-instruction@utlists.utexas.edu for more information.
