Information Literacy – information skills for everyone

1. Information Literacy – information skills for everyone Christine Irving learndirect Scotland Masterclass Wednesday 7th June 2006

2. Contact details: Christine Irving Research Assistant / Project Officer Information literacy skills - the link between secondary and tertiary education Learner Support Glasgow Caledonian University Room RS305 Rose Street Glasgow G3 6RB Tel: 0141 273 1249 e-mail: christine.irving@gcal.ac.uk Project website: www.learningservices.gcal.ac.uk/ils/index.html

3. Brief bio Information literacy work involved in: • previously: • Information Handling Skills project - SFEU/cross sector • co-writing the NAB for the Information Handling Skills Intermediate Level 2 national unit qualification – SQA • 2nd phase of Information Handling Skills material – SLIC • currently - Glasgow Caledonian University: • Information literacy skills - the link between secondary and tertiary education • Information literacy in the workplace • Other work previously involved in: • ICT Workshop Trainer for NOF funded training for Public Library staff • Writing open and flexible learning materials for access students (Informal / Formal Carers) on ‘Getting started with the Internet’. • Creation and maintenance of Help Centre website. • Currently studying for an MSc in Lifelong Learning and Development – Scottish Centre for Work Based Learning, Glasgow Caledonian University.

4. Aims • to look at some of the information literacy skills and competencies in more detail, highlighting and discussing the problems experienced • demonstration and hands on session of some of the Information Handling Skills online material available through SkillNet • opportunity to try out some tips and techniques

5. Programme 10.30 Introduction 10.40 Discussion about learners, information and information literacy 10.55 Demonstration of Information Handling Skills material 11.10 Hands on session 11.50 Plenary session 12.00 Buffet Lunch 13.00 Close

6. Information literacy: definition 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 skills (or competencies) that are required to be information literate require an understanding of: • a need for information • the resources available • how to find information • the need to evaluate results • how to work with or exploit results • ethics and responsibility of use • how to communicate or share your findings • how to manage your findings. www.cilip.org.uk/professionalguidance/informationliteracy/definition/

7. HMIe report A recent interim report by HM Inspectors of Education (HMIe) in Scotland on the Integration of Information and Communication Technology specifically mentions information literacy and its importance plus lack of application. The report identifies that ‘Few schools had systematic approaches to developing information literacy to ensure that all pupils acquired this set of skills progressively as part of their passport of core and life skills.’ The reports’ conclusions in relation to curricular planning states that schools should ensure that: • pupils ultimately achieve a cohesive ICT skills set, to prepare them for • the world of tertiary education or work including information literacy skills HM Inspectors of Education, 2005. The Integration of Information and Communications Technology in Scottish Schools: An interim report by HM Inspectors of Education October 2005 http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/EvICT%20Final%2018%20Oct.html 4.14. see also 5.29, 8.1 and 9.9

8. What information literacy skills if anydo 1st year students bring to university ? Poor or limited skills are generally in the following areas: • Knowing the different types of information; where information comes from; how it is generated; published etc. and how to use it • Search strategies, searching in depth or beyond what’s available • Evaluating information found plus critical thinking

9. Information literacy in the workplaceFindings from recent small research based exploratory interviews: Skills: • generally employers are not explicitly looking for information literacy skills and competencies by name they are assuming employees have these skills Learning in the workplace: • tends to be driven by business requirements and job or task specific • generally does not formally include information literacy or any of the skills and competencies except in the form of Internet training / acceptable use policy • informal learning in information literacy skills and competences are taking place in the form of learning from colleagues. Given the lack of application of information literacy in schools reported by HMIe and the research findings by this author of pupils and students highlighted earlier and the findings of this research then this has the potential of leading to a narrow, poor or patchy level of skills. Information skills / information literacy • a variety of information resources are used, the resources used tended to depend on what resources individuals have previous experience of and have access to. • as no formal training is taking place in the workplace there is the potential that valuable resources may not be being used through lack of knowledge or not used to their full potential through lack of training or experience. • the Internet and the web were in many cases the most used information resource as it was the most accessible. Given the reliance on this resource, the lack of training re evaluating sources of information it is not surprising that there is the potential for information to turn out to be not as reliable as had originally thought.