#2 Information literacy standards: http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency Respond to the following: What is information literacy? What are is components/elements? And why is it valuable to a thinking person?
#2 Information literacy standards: http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency Respond to the following: What is information literacy? What are is components/elements? And why is it valuable to a thinking person?
I remember the first day of orientation in the M.A. History program at UWG. We were given a short introduction to primary sources in the library. I was a little embarrassed that I really did not know what a primary source was. When the librarian asked if everyone understood how to use a primary source, I ducked my head. I was very acquainted with secondary sources--but primary sources? What are those?
ReplyDeleteTurns out, I had been using primary sources in my undergraduate research archaeology, but as material objects, and I hadn't realized that these were primary sources as well. I had a meeting with the librarian later, and I discovered that there is a little tab on the front of the library database labeled "primary" sources. Whoa! Magic.
Information literacy is knowing how to figure out what you need to know, knowing where to search, and learning how to synthesize and disseminate the information properly. It entails narrowing down the wide world of information, organizing it, and finding valuable insights using critical thinking and originality of thought. In addition, information literacy helps us form and support hypotheses by using a combination of channels: databases, material objects, interviews, and other types of sources while identifying the credibility of these sources.
It is important to understand your purpose and the "extent of information needed." Which, to me, might be the hardest part of the process, and one that I need to work on. Organization and creating a way to manage citations and the records accessed is another of my weaknesses (although, I have identified many in this reading).
Information literacy is valuable to a thinking person due to the intellectual challenges that are inherent in IL. You must study other's viewpoints, have discussions with peers or professionals, examine your own biases, and learn to create strategies for obtaining information that can be communicated to a specific audience. It is valuable for growth as an individual, and important in the creation of life-long learners.
Thoughtful and articulate reply, April.
DeleteYou offer a concise summary of IL and explain the value in a straightforward way.
What is information literacy: information literacy, as obvious from the many different definitions, can be different things but there are common threads in those definitions. Those common thread are to be able to find information, analyze that information, and then be able to use that information in their life, whether that be work or personal.
ReplyDeleteWhat are its components/elements:
- find information
- retrieve information
- analyze information
- use information
Why is is valuable to a thinking person: information literacy is the basis of life. If you don't know things, then you are not very useful to society. It is the basis of being able to understand the world and its workings. These things are invaluable to a lifetime of learning.
"If you don't know things, then you are not very useful to society".....yeah, or to yourself. ;-)
DeleteVery true!
DeleteInformation literacy is when a person is able to obtain information that is needed and they have the capability to find, evaluate, and use successfully the needed information. The Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education highlights,
ReplyDelete• Determine the extent of information needed
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally
as being components/elements of information literacy skills. Still, the website further explores the topic by discussing the significates of, technology, lifelong learning, problem solving, research methods, and thinking skills (such as, reflective and evaluative).
The value of being a thinking person is, being able to uses the above skills in order to live life successfully. Throughout a person’s life they are faced with challenges (e.g., at work, home, etc.) and being a thinking person can help an individual handle an array of situations.
Nice work. I like that you fold IL into the concept of a "thinking person". I don't know many critical thinkers who are not also information literate. They normal go together.
DeleteInformation literacy is the ease with which one can locate information necessary to employ or evaluate it.
ReplyDeleteElements and components are the ways or steps used to reach understanding by employing the information. i.e. locating, researching, using, remembering.