What is information literacy?
Information Literacy is more than possessing general and functional
literacy skills. It is more than knowing how to use information technology
and it is more than knowing your way around a library, how to understand
the catalogue and to use databases. It is all of these skills and
much more.
Information literacy is "an intellectual framework for recognising
the need for, understanding, finding, evaluating, and using information
- activities which may be supported in part by fluency with information
technology, in part by sound investigative methods, but most importantly,
through critical discernment and reasoning" (ANZIIL, 2004 p.4).
By ensuring that individuals can process information through critical
thinking, and by helping them construct a framework for learning how
to learn, information literacy is seen as providing the foundation
for continued growth in all areas of an individual's educational,
professional, and personal lives.
Why is information literacy so important?
As the volume of information available continues to expand, as the
quality of information continues to vary considerably, and as the ways
in which individuals receive information continues to increase, so
too does the need for sophisticated information literacy skills.
To operate effectively in increasingly complex information environments,
individuals need to develop high-order investigative and analytical
thinking skills, advanced research and problem solving abilities, and
excellent communication skills. That is, they need to become 'information
literate'.
The need for information literacy preparation has extended to the
higher education sector. Recent reforms have placed greater emphasis
on the need for students to develop skills and competencies that will
develop their professional and personal learning capabilities, increase
their employability, and facilitate lifelong learning. UNSW has demonstrated
its commitment to information literacy through the its approval of
information literacy as one of its key graduate
attributes.
Information Literacy at the Academy Library
The Library works collaboratively with academic staff
and other related groups (eg. ICT Services, Educational Technology
Services) to develop valuable information literacy initiatives across
all relevant areas at UNSW@ADFA.
What can the Academy Library do right now to assist in developing
the information literacy skills of UNSW@ADFA's staff and students?
The Library already provides a number of products and services that
enhance the teaching, learning and research activities of UNSW@ADFA's
staff and students. Some of the available services include:
- Provision of a professional reference service - available in person,
via the telephone and email, and through the "Ask A Librarian" option
of the AskUs service
- Presentation of customised research and information skills classes
to undergraduates and postgraduates
- Provision of generic instruction programs - eg. How to construct
search strategies; tools and techniques to assist research; using
databases,
etc.
- On-campus orientation activities, such as Library tours and overviews
of the Library's collections
- Access to detailed subject information guides and quality electronic
resources
- Provision of training and support for bibliographic management
support software (eg. EndNote)
- Provision of awareness services to the general UNSW@ADFA community
(through the Library webpage and other liaison methods), alerting
staff and students to new services, products and training
- Participation in curriculum planning, assisting academic staff
to locate resources needed for their courses and their research activities
- Presentation of seminars to Schools to keep staff up-to-date with
new teaching and research resources
- Provision of an outreach service to academic staff with regular
in-school support by liaison librarians
- Advice and assistance in regards to copyright
issues
ELISE (Enabling Library and Information Skills for Everyone)
To assist first-year students to familiarise themselves with the Academy
Library and other key information concepts, the Academy Library introduced
ELISE, an online tutorial about how information
is organised
and used
at university.
UNSW@ADFA's
ELISE was based on the UNSW version, with modifications made to suit
the UNSW@ADFA context.
ELISE has two basic components:
- an online diary (weblog) narrating the experiences
of a new student from last year trying to write the first assignment
while learning
to use library information resources and tools; and
- a short
quiz that assesses learning and progress after reading through
the weblog. Students are allowed multiple attempts (if needed)
until they get
a pass mark of at least 80 percent.
Information literacy standards
Our programs are designed to offer students appropriate information
skills at all levels, and follow the Information
Literacy Standards for Australasia produced by the Australian and
New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy (ANZIIL).
In brief, an information literate staff member or student is one who
can:
- Recognise a need for information and determine the nature and
extent of the information need
- Find needed information effectively and efficiently
- Critically evaluate information and the information seeking process
- Manage information collected or generated
- Apply prior and new information to construct new concepts or create
new understandings
- Use information with understanding and acknowledge cultural, ethical,
economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information
How can information literacy skills be included
in the academic curriculum?
Here are some practical suggestions to integrate information literacy
skills into a course:
- Library exercise to locate books, journal articles and other sources
on a topic;
- Online tutorial introducing students to key subject resources;
- Library tour of essential resources;
- Hands-on database tutorials;
- Have students prepare a literature review of information sources
on a topic;
- Ask students to research and evaluate the treatment of a topic
in a variety of sources, e.g. a scholarly journal, popular publication,
web site.
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For further information on information literacy, contact Jan
Gordon, Library manager on 02 6268 8122, or your relevant subject
Liaision Librarian.
