Slide 1

Introduction to Information Literacy

Slide 2

Case study• Meet Jane!• Jane is a parliamentary researcher who

has been asked by an MP to write a report about use of vaccines in Africa

• Jane prepares the report… but the MP is not happy

• He complains that:– some of it is based on unreliable sources

such as anti-vaccine lobby groups– Some of the data is over ten years old– Some of the information concerns vaccine

use in Europe not in Africa– Some key sources such as the World

Health Organisation have not been consulted

Slide 3

Case study cont.

Why do you think Jane did not use better information?

Slide 4

What is Information Literacy?

IL is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the information needed

Slide 5

“Seven pillars” of Information Literacy

4. Locating and assessing

information

5. Comparing and evaluating

found information

6. Organising, applying and

communicating

7. Synthesising and creating

new knowledge

1. Recognizing an information need

2. Distinguishing ways of addressing information gaps

3. Constructing strategies of locating information

required

Slide 6

An Information Literate Person is one who can…1. Know the extent of information needed.2. Access the needed information effectively and

efficiently. 3. Critically evaluate information and its sources.4. Incorporate the selected information into her

knowledge base.5. Use information effectively to accomplish a specific

purpose (eg. solve a problem, add new knowledge).6. Understand the economic, legal and social issues

surrounding the accessed information and so use the information ethically and legally.

Slide 7

Information Literacy involves:

•What is the definition of each of these?•Give examples of each

Knowledge Skills

Attitudes

Slide 8

• What is lifelong learning?

• Do people need to learn how to learn?

• Information Literacy is the key to lifelong learning

Lifelong learning

Slide 9

This workshop

• Recognising information need• Defining an information problem• Searching for information • Evaluating information

Slide 10

Gathering information at school

– Why did you need new information?

– Where did you get information from?

– Were you encouraged to ask questions?

– Did you ‘critically evaluate’ the information from your teacher?

– If not, why not?

Think back to when you were at school…

Slide 11

• When we were at school, many of us learnt ‘by rote’

• We were not encouraged to ask questions and investigate

Gathering information at school

Slide 12

Gathering information now

Discuss with a partner• Has your experience at school affected your

information seeking behaviour as an adult?• Are you curious to find out new information or

do you tend to accept what you are told?• What attitudes prevent you from seeking

information?

Slide 13

Asking questions is good!

• The first step to being information literate is being curious

• Asking questions and seeking new information is how you will continue to learn and develop

Slide 14

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