What are the big ideas of information literacy? Look beyond the skills - how are we conceptualizing information literacy (you may want to break it down). What are the unstated biases guiding the way we discuss information literacy - in terms of standards. If you were teaching a course that focused on information literacy what are the overarching understandings you would want students to have at the end of the course?
In terms of conceptualizing information literacy, it is not simply about finding information whether it is in print or electronic format. Real information literacy requires evaluation and ethical use of the information. Information seekers should question where the information is coming from (they should question "the slant" so to speak) and they should be able to use it in appropriate ways. For example, plagiarism should be avoided and credit should be given where credit is due. Also, information is used differently depending on the context (such as a specific discipline.)
The unstated biases guiding the way we discuss information literacy, in terms of standards are assuming the information seeker has the cognitive, physical ability or socio-economic ability to meet information literacy standards. I can't help but think of people with "invisible" learning disabilities, physical disabilities or those with limited access to information due to external circumstances. These people would have trouble meeting the standards suggested by ACRL. (I don't know if I'm approaching this question in the right way. I'm curious to read what others have to say about this.)
The overarching understandings I would want students to have at the end of an information literacy course would be the powerful nature of information and how it informs all of their decision making. It would want them to understand why it is so important to know where their information is coming from and use this as a guide to question why they think the way they do. (Metacognition?) I would also want them to understand what a privilege it is to have open access to information in a variety of formats and how some information is costly and protected. You can't find everything on Google!
(I referred to the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for this post.)
I appreciate that you have connected information literacy with critical thinking in your imagining of a future course that asks learners to think about where they get information and how it informs how they think. This implicitly recognizes the importance of worldview on one's perceived information need and the sources used, as we tend to seek out that which confirms what we already think. This is not something explicitly taken into account by the ACRL guidelines.
ReplyDeleteI like your overarching understandings that you suggest. I think that when I realized those understandings for my self is when I decided to go into librarianship.
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