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Information Literacy
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See General Teaching Skills section for general sources which may well contain this topic
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:
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a need for information
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the resources available
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how to find information
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the need to evaluate results
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how to work with or exploit results
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ethics and responsibility of use
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how to communicate or share your findings
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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.
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/
London South Bank University has Information Quest. This is a web-based package, and is intended for LSBU students, but much of it is relevant for anyone. The package is is made up of several units. For each unit there is a brief description, along with expected learning outcomes. There is also a rough guide of the time a unit may take to complete. The format of each unit is the same - there is the introduction; hints and tips; an example shown on screen, an opportunity for you to try an example yourself and then a short section on where to find further information. Available at: http://www.lisa.lsbu.ac.uk/quest/index.html
The Open University Library has a number of information literacy resources including safari, which is at: http://www.open.ac.uk/safari/
Texas Information Literacy Tutorial (TILT) is an educational Web site designed to introduce first-year students to research sources and skills. The tutorial offers an introduction and three modules, which you can complete in any order. Each should take you approximately 30 minutes. This is an excellent, free resource, which is available at: http://tilt.lib.utsystem.edu/
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