Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Information Literacy Need

Here's a description of the information literacy need from the Council of Australian University Librarians Information Literacy Standards document:

Information literacy is required because of proliferating information access and resources. Individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices in their studies, in the workplace, and in their lives. Information is available through community resources, special interest organisations, manufacturers and service providers, media, libraries, and the internet. Increasingly, information comes unfiltered. This raises questions about authenticity, validity, and reliability. In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual. These pose special challenges in evaluating, understanding and using information in an ethical and legal manner. The uncertain quality and expanding quantity of information also pose large challenges for society. Sheer abundance of information and technology will not in itself create more informed citizens without a complementary understanding and capacity to use information effectively.

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Focusing on Assignments

Here's an interesting site called Focusing on Assignments: Engaging Students in Library Research

It is described as a Collaborative Information Literacy Project of Cornell College & Colorado College. In particular, look at the assignments and the assessments tabs. Is designing appropriate assignments or at least advising on appropriate assignments part of IL for librarians at StFX?

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Googling to the Max

Here's a presentation done by Linda J. Goff, Head of Instructional Services at California State University. She calls her MSPowerPoint presentation Googling to the Max. Her philosophy is that "We should all take it as a given that our students are avid Google users and start where they are. My experience is that given an empty search box, most students click before they think. By showing them how to get more out of their Google searching, we can then build on that experience".

Thursday, February 02, 2006

Checklist of Information Competencies

California State University and California Community College librarians came up with this checklist of competencies to use as a resource for planning and assessing IL programs.