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OK, what actually is 'Information Literacy' I can hear you ask!
Simply put: '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. This definition implies several skills. 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.
Source: Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Perhaps one important point that can be drawn out, and which it is useful to emphasise here, is that IL is about information in all forms. Information may come from another person, from a paper-based magazine or book, report or newspaper, from a digital source such as a database, a search engine or an e-book accessed through a computer, or it may come from any other form of media: film, video, DVD, radio, television, etc. The definition and skills or competencies above cross all media. There are many initiatives around the world promoting Information Literacy, and providing training for IL. Some of the best sites, guides and materials are listed or available for download below.
Information Literacy website
This website has been designed and developed by information
professionals from key UK organisations actively involved in the field
of information literacy. The site supports practitioners by providing news, case studies,
examples of best practice and freely available tool kits. Our aim is to
provide a practical resource that information professionals regularly
visit to discover the latest developments in information literacy.
At http://www.informationliteracy.org.uk/
Information and critical literacy website. Learning and Teaching Scotland has commissioned this collection of learning materials to help learners develop the study skills and information and critical literacy they need in order to become independent learners and develop their full potential as individuals, citizens and workers in the 21st century. At http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/informationliteracy/index.asp
INTUTE: Virtual Training Suite describes itself as follows:
The Virtual Training Suite is continually updated to provide FREE online Internet training tutorials for over 65 subject areas. Each tutorial covers
Internet search and research skills for a different subject -
there's one for most of the subjects taught in UK universities and
colleges, with a few extras on topics of general interest. The service
is aimed at students, lecturers and researchers in UK higher and
further education, but is freely available for anyone to use. The
tutorials are authored and updated by a national team of subject specialists
based in universities, colleges and museums across the UK. Find out
which Web sites they recommend, and get some authoritative and reliable
advice from these experienced Internet researchers. Excellent site at: http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/
The Open University Library has a number of information literacy resources including safari, which is at: http://www.open.ac.uk/safari/
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