FA10Q3Response

Fall 2010 Question 3 Information technology has penetrated all domains of human life: education, workplace and home. More and more people are adopting the Internet for shopping, learning, finding information, and communicating with people. One of the critical competencies in the 21st century is information literacy. a. Articulate the meaning of information literacy in the digital age b. Select an information environment to discuss issues related to information literacy c. Propose strategies or instructional programs to improve information competency

> to be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the information > Determine the extent of information needed > Access the needed information effectively and efficiently > Evaluate information and its sources critially > Incorporate selected information into one's knowledge base > Use information effectivley 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. > Class instruction (initiated by faculty or required by program/school) > Online (web-based) tutorials (there are peer-reviewed post-secondary tutorials available from ACRL) > Curriculum that integrates self-directed learning, critical-thinking and problem-solving requiring the use of a wide variety of information sources to expand their knowledge base to promote life-long learning. This strategy requires collaboration with faculty, curriculum specific librarians, and administration. This would be the ideal in undergraduate education
 * Definition of Information Literacy
 * AASL defined information literacy as the ability to effectively locate, use and evaluate information.
 * From The Information Literacy Compentency Standards for Higher Education (available at http://www.ala.org/acrl/ilcomstan.html) addresses info literacy and digital environment in an Academic Library. If selecting an Academic Library as the information environment in Part b, discusses issues of information literacy in that environment:
 * "Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate,and use effectively the needed information.
 * Information literacy also is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Because of the escalating complexity of this environment, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices in their academic studies, in the workplace, and in their personal lives. Information is available through libraries, community resources, special interest organizations, media, and the Internet and increasingly, information comes to individuals in unfiltered formats, raising questions about its authenticity, validity, and reliability. In addition, information is available through multiple media, including graphical, aural, and textual, and these pose new challenges forindividuals in evaluating and understanding it. The uncertain quality and expanding quantity of information pose large challenges for society. The sheer abundance of information will not in itself create a more informed citizenry without a complementary cluster of abilities necessary to use information effectively."
 * According to the ACRL an Information Literate individual will:
 * If an Academic Library is selected as the information environment, strategies or instrucional programs (Part c) promoted by ACRL are: