Information Literacy models: Information Literacy models: learning from the past to inform the learning from the past to inform the

future.future.

Moira Bent, Newcastle UniversityRuth Stubbings, Loughborough University

What’s all the fuss about?What’s all the fuss about?

What does information literacy mean to you?

Why is information literacy important?

What has informed your thinking on IL?

What does the future hold?

Can models help us?

What does What does information literacy information literacy

mean to you?mean to you?

What does it mean to What does it mean to be information be information

literate?literate?Becoming a

Lifelong learner

Using the Library effectively

Understanding what you read

Using info wisely

Organising resources

Developing ideas

Using IT

Knowing where to look

Interpreting, summarising

Understanding how information works

Information literacy:Information literacy:what is it?what is it?

The New Zealand Government

‘The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.’

New Zealand Government (Unknown) Glossary of key terms IN Digital strategy: Smarter through digital. http://www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Resources/Glossary-of-Key-Terms/

CILIP UK

“Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.”

The Chartered Institute of Information and Library Professionals (Unknown) Information literacy Definition. http://www.cilip.org.uk/policyadvocacy/learning/informationliteracy/definition/default.htm

The Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)

"To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.”

ACRL. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy: Final Report http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/whitepapers/presidential.cfm

New SCONUL New SCONUL definitiondefinition

“Information literate people will demonstrate an awareness of how they

gather, use, manage, synthesise and create information and data in an ethical manner and will have the information skills to do so

effectively.“

Not only skills and competencies

But also attitudes and behaviours

Why is information Why is information literacy important?literacy important?

Alexandria ProclamationAlexandria Proclamation“Information Literacy lies at the core of

lifelong learning …Life long learning enables individuals,

communities and nations to attain their goals and to take advantage of emerging

opportunities in the evolving global environment for shared benefit. It assists

them and their institutions to meet technological, economic and social

challenges, to redress disadvantage and to advance the well being of all.”

What has informed What has informed your thinking on IL?your thinking on IL?

IL theoriesIL theories

Underlying thoughtsUnderlying thoughtsPeople see teaching and learning

differentlyThe way people see information literacy

affects how they learnTeachers’ conceptions of student IL affect

how they teachLibrarians think students and teachers are

not very information literateStudent perceptions of IL affect how they

interact with the LibrarySerendipitous learning…

Teaching and learning Teaching and learning theorytheory

Learning involves the constant search for meaning by the acquisition of information,

reflection, engagement and active application in multiple contexts (Learning

Reconsidered)

Learning styles Learning attitudes, habits and behaviours Threshold concepts (Meyer and Land)

Who owns Information Who owns Information Literacy?Literacy?

“IL is an issue for librarians but it is not a library issue” (Bundy, 2004, p.7)

“What a librarian can’t do, at least not as well as the academic … is to teach students

to extract information from resources, theorise or locate meaning”

(Asher, 2003)

University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki

Values:Critical thinking

CreativityQuest for knowledge and truth

“ By enhancing information literacy among teachers and students, the Library contributes to the high quality of teaching at the University of

Helsinki”

UNESCOUNESCO

‘Information Literacy is more than a library or education issue. It is

crucial to issues of economic development, health, citizenship

and quality of life.’

From theory to From theory to practicepractice

IL modelsIL models

SCONUL Seven PillarsSCONUL Seven Pillars

Problems with modelsProblems with models Inflexible

Out of date

Linear

Context specific

Country specific

“Librariany”

Off putting terminology

Hard to apply in practice

Can models help us? Can models help us?

Models can helpModels can help Models help us to formulate ideas Provide a framework to plan against Give us terminology to initiate discussions Help us measure progress Allow us to articulate outcomes Give a recognisable structure/ common goals Provide hooks into other professional arenas

Need to be flexible and adaptable

When designing models When designing models we have to considerwe have to consider

Terminology

Learning theory, where does this fit?

Internationalising the curriculum

Digital Darwinism

Consumer society and value for money

Education or training?

The future – what The future – what does it hold?does it hold?

Educational Educational changes….changes….

Changing school curricula Changing demands in universities Emphasis on the 1st year experience Continuing Professional Development Internationalisation Impact of new technologies Non traditional students Diversity Changes in learning & teaching Libraries as learning spaces

Informing the future – Informing the future – some final thoughtssome final thoughts

What attributes will we need to survive in the information world of the future?

Will IL be embedded in the mainstream curriculum? Implicit or explicit?

Who should be teaching it?

Is advocacy with academic staff a better role for us?

Will models help us get there?

The new Seven Pillars The new Seven Pillars modelmodel

Trailer for next talk....

Encompasses all different kinds of information “literacies” Addresses attitudes and behaviours as well as skills and competencies Flexible Can be adapted for different learner constituencies – the “lens” approach