Once upon a time: going back to the roots of information literacy. Ruth Wilson & Rita McWilliam...

Once upon a time: going back to the roots of information literacy

Ruth Wilson, Edge Hill University, wilsonr@edgehill.ac.uk

Rita McWilliam, Edge Hill University, Rita.McWilliam@edgehill.ac.uk

This session will explore the theme of developing information literacy from a very young age while demonstrating a collaborative approach with an external agency. Learning Services at

Edge Hill has worked with Lancashire Libraries to deliver workshops to early years students in order to raise an awareness of the reading process and importance of books

The roots of information literacy begin when young children begin to interact with the world of books. In 2013 we began a collaboration to take students back to before they were readers

and to introduce the crucial role literacy skills have in nurturing the creative and enquiring skills so important in later years. The Save the Children report Read on. Get On (2014) says

‘first learn to read, then read to learn’.

This Teachmeet will outline share the process including evaluations. This is an unusual and specific approach to information literacy with a particular audience and context. However it

offers the potential to be adapted.

This Teachmeet will: Seek to explain how we approached our aims & will give practical advice on what might be included in similar workshops. We will cover how we enabled students to:

Explore the experience of learning to read

Consider approaches to reading with young children Learn how to select books to match age, interest & ability

Think about how to engage an audience Consider how to use books as a sources of information

References:

Save The Children (2014) Read On. Get On: how reading can help children escape poverty. London: Save The Children.