Murguia Learning Institute: Learning

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Murguia Learning InstituteLearning the
Library
Celita DeArmondReference Distance Learning
Librarian cdearmon_at_accd.edu
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http//www.mcphee.com
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A conversation on

• Information literacy
• What does this phrase mean to you?
• What does it mean for our students?

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So what is information literacy?

• ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards
  for Higher Education
• Definition 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.
• Standards Toolkit
• http//www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit
  /infolitstandards/standardstoolkit.htm

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Why is information literacy so important?

• "What does a person need to know today to be a
  full-fledged, competent and literate member of
  the information society? As we witness not only
  the saturation of our daily lives with
  information organized and transmitted via
  information technology, but the way in which
  public issues and social life increasingly are
  affected by information-technology issues - from
  intellectual property to privacy and the
  structure of work to entertainment, art and
  fantasy life - the issue of what it means to be
  information-literate becomes more acute for our
  whole society.
• Jeremy Shapiro, Information Literacy as a
  Liberal Art Educom Review, 1996.
• IL forms the basis for life-long learning.
• IL is common to all disciplines and learning
  environments, and to all levels of education.

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How do we talk to students about information,
specifically research?

• Get thee to a library!
• Its easy. Its all online. Its available
  24/7.
• Google it.
• Dont use the Internet!
• Bring me a photocopy from a real magazine.
• Your topic is too broad.
• Your topic is too narrow.
• You will write a research paper on topic x. It
  should be 10 pages, double-spaced, 10 sources
  with bibliography, MLA style.

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Information literacy is all about learning
outcomes

• What should we be able to do if we are to be
  considered information literate?
• At what level?
• How can we be more honest with students about our
  expectations?
• How can we be more honest with students about
  their skill level?

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Information Literacy Objectives their Outcomes

• Each of these objectives include detailed
  learning outcomes
• Determine the kind and quantity of information
  needed
• Access the necessary information effectively and
  efficiently
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
• Use information successfully to accomplish a
  specific purpose
• Access and use information ethically and legally.
• Outcomes in your syllabus and assignments
• Outcomes in a one-shot library instruction
  session
• http//www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit
  /infolitstandards/standardstoolkit.htm

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Outcomes you probably already use

• The information literate student
• Reads the text and selects main ideas
• Analyzes the structure and logic of supporting
  arguments or methods
• Tests theories with discipline-appropriate
  techniques (e.g., simulators, experiments)
• Participates in classroom and other discussions
• Organizes the content in a manner that supports
  the purposes and format of the product or
  performance (e.g. outlines, drafts, storyboards)
• Demonstrates an understanding of what constitutes
  plagiarism and does not represent work
  attributable to others as his/her own
• Selects an appropriate documentation style and
  uses it consistently to cite sources

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Lets practice a few outcomes!
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Research is a process

• I. Define your research topic
• II. Devise a search strategy for your topic
• III. Search sources to find books, articles, etc.
• Lather, rinse, EVALUATE, repeat?

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Im looking for an image change and would like to
follow in the footsteps of some of my librarian
colleagues. Should I become a modified
librarian?
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Gail - Government Documents Librarian at Watson
Library NorthwesternState University in
Natchitoches LA
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Sadie high school librarian for 14 years
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Stephen - "information specialist" at TheTrauma
Foundation's Violence and Injury Prevention
Library at San Francisco General Hospital
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I. Define your research topic

• What topic are you researching? What broad
  subject areas does your topic fall under?
• List what you know about your topic the Who?
  What? When? Where? Why? and How?
• What is your thesis statement or research
  question? What would you like to find out?

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II. Devise a search strategy for your topic
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Keyword v. Subject ?

• Start with a keyword search
• Searches for keywords anywhere!
• Find one item that fits your research topic and
  look at the subject headings
• Search using those subject headings
• Searches for items that are organized under a
  specific topic!

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The Research Triangle
ENCYCLOPEDIAS define topic, get general
overview or historical context
BOOKS find in-depth information
ARTICLES highlight specific, current, or
regional information
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Library Home Page
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Login from Off-campus, 24/7
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Happy searching, and remember

• "If education is what you're left with after you
  forget everything you've learned, information
  literacy must be the best skill for children
  growing up in the information age.
• Jenny Sinclair, "The Information Challenge" The
  Age 6 February 2002.

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Ideas for Info Lit Assignments

• Select a recent newspaper article or editorial
  and find further information on the topic
  (articles with statistics are great!)
• Evaluate 3 different free web sites on a topic
• Pick an urban legend why do we believe in these
  and email them around?
• Pick a hoax site such as Save The Pacific
  Northwest Tree Octopus and use a variety of
  sources to explain why this is a hoax
• Pick a current issue and find and compare sources
  that discuss opposing sides
• Track a topic over time and log how public
  opinion or facts or your own feelings about this
  topic changes
• Problem-based learning, case studies, etc.
• Feel free to consult with a librarian on
  available resources or ideas for assignments!
• 1 rule on assignments try it out on someone
  else first