Saturday October 11, 2008
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Information Literacy


Overview

Information literacy is not about just the library. It encompasses the total college experience: curriculum, outcomes and student success. All sectors of the college: library, faculty, and administration must be involved in its planning and implementation.

Definition:

"Information literacy is an intellectual framework for identifying, finding, understanding, evaluating and using information. It includes determining the nature and extent of needed information; accessing information effectively and efficiently; critically evaluating information and its sources; incorporating selected information in the learner's knowledge base and value system; using information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose; understanding the economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information and information technology; and observing laws, regulations, and institutional policies related to the access and use of information.

Information literacy is vital to all disciplines and to effective teaching and learning in any institution. Institutions of higher education need to provide students and instructors with the knowledge, skills, and tools to obtain information in many formats and media in order to identify, retrieve and apply relevant and valid knowledge and information resources to their study, teaching, or research."

Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Eligibility Requirements and Standards for Accreditation, p. 32

Middle States Standards:

Middle States now has 14 standards in Characteristics. Three of those involve information literacy:

Standard 11

"The institution idntifies students learning goals and objectives, including knowledge and skills, for its educational offerings."

p. 31

Standard 12

"The instituion's curricula are designed so that students aquire and demonstrate college-level proficiency in general education and essential skills, including oral and written communication, scientific and quantitative reasoning, critical analysis and reasoning, technological competency, and information literacy."

p.37


Essential Documents:

Characteristics of Excellence in Higher Education: Eligibility Requirements and Standards for Accreditation. 2002.

Student Learning Assessment: Options and Resources. 2003.

Developing Research and Communication Skills: Guidelines for Information Literacy in the Curriculum. 2003.