Information Literacy

 

Information Literacy

In a world where you can ask google for anything , the real question isn’t “can I find information ? , its can I trust it ,use it well and learn from it? ,that’s where Information literacy comes in. Lets break down what it means to be informed literate, why it matters now more than ever and how higher education defines and teaches these essential skills.  Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.
information literacy also is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of the rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Because of the escalation complexity of technology change, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices- in the academic studies, workplace and personal lives. Information-literate individuals share common characteristics:

1.    1.   Define information needs

2.    2. Search and access effectively:

3.    3.Critically evaluate sources:

4.    4. Integrate and use information

5.   5.Act ethically

6.   6. Embrace lifelong learning

Why does information literacy matter now?

We live in an era where there is a lot of platforms providing information, there is information overload and sometimes one can be a victim of misinformation. Being information literate help you:

·       Avoid scam and biased content

·       Excel in academic and research

·       Make informed life decisions

UNESCO calls information literacy a basic human right, just like reading and writing. Because in the end, knowing how to find the truth is more powerful than just finding answers.

What has been done to measure information -literacy??

To help educators and librarians teach and measure information literacy skills, the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) published the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (2000). These standards offer a formal framework for assessing and developing students’ control over information. In other words, they break information literacy down into manageable skills and outcomes that faculty can integrate into coursework and library instruction.

The five standards and 22 Performance Indicators

1.       Determine Information need: they define what they need to know, by formulating research questions and keywords to guide the search for information.

2.       Access information: The student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently with the use of tools like databases and reliable web sources

3.       Evaluate sources critically: Spot fake news, compare, question and verify

4.       Use of Information purposively: Apply the information to projects, presentations or real-life decisions

5.       Use information ethically: cite sources, avoid plagiarism and understand digital responsibilities.

 

 

 

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