Introduction to Information Literacy 1

M01:Course Overview and Introductory Concepts

Introduction to Information Literacy 2

Outline

Information literacy and its importance The influences of the new economy The digital divide The differences between IL and IT

Introduction to Information Literacy 3

What is Information Literacy?

Information literacy (IL) is the set of skills to information problem solving, the skills commonly taught in liberal arts tertiary institutions around the world

Introduction to Information Literacy 4

What is information literacy? (continued)

Identify

Search

Evaluate

Use

Present

Identify To identify the problem and the information needs.

Search To develop a search strategy and to search the

information you need. Evaluate

To evaluate the information obtained. Use

To extract, summarize and analyze the information to solve the problem.

Present Write a paper and give a presentation. Do not

forget to cite the information sources.

Introduction to Information Literacy 5

Problem Solving Models•Big6 model- Eisenberg and Berkowitz

1. Task Definition2. Information Seeking Strategies3. Location and Access4. Use of information5. Synthesis6. Evaluation

•Research Model Process - Stripling and Pitts

Introduction to Information Literacy 6

Objectives of Learning IL To foster students’ ability to identify, search, eval

uate, use, and present information effectively relevant to decision making and problem solving in their studies

To train students to become autonomous learners

To achieve the University goal: capabilities of life-long learning Learning how to learn Be value-added throughout the University life and

your lives

Introduction to Information Literacy 7

New Economy Since the 2nd half of 1990s Marked the period of IT bloom A higher growth rate of productivity Heavy IT spending or investment Increased/improved use of IT spending

contributed to this productivity gain IT skills penetrated in all aspects in our daily

life

Introduction to Information Literacy 8

Influences of the New Economy Offered both opportunity and risk for both IT and non-

IT employees Required life-long learning for long-run economic

security Penetration of IT in all aspects in business Location of work without boundary (virtual office) Growth in on-the-job computing use Required employees to adapt quickly to the changing

technologies and organizational structures—to possess technical skills and soft skills

Introduction to Information Literacy 9

Digital Divide in the New Economy

Have access to technology

Goal of SocietyDo not have

access to technology

Cities

Bridging the Digital Divide

Rural areas

Educated people Uneducated people

Upper-income families Lower-income families

More industrially developed nations

Less industrially developed nations

Majority Minority

People without disabilities

People with disabilities

Introduction to Information Literacy 10

Narrowing the Digital Divide Much efforts have been done by government

and organizations to bridge this divide Provide public Internet access in some organizations and

public libraries Increasing competition in market (ISP licenses) lowers the

broadband Internet access fee to everyone Promote usage of IT, Internet, WWW in education Provide funding for projects, education, innovation, etc. Others

Is there such divide in the University?

Introduction to Information Literacy 11

Information Literacy (IL) and Information Technology (IT) Skills Information literacy

Stresses on information problem solving skills, it provides an academic framework for identifying, searching, evaluating, using, and presenting information

Information technology skills Refer to skills in using computers, software applications, databas

es, and other technologies (hardware/software) to achieve a wide variety of academic, work-related, and personal goals

Support IL in various stages, with skills in using Internet/WWW, word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation

graphics, database

Introduction to Information Literacy 12

Information Literacy (IL) and Information Technology (IT)

IL Identifying

Searching

Evaluating

Using andPresentingInformation

IT (support IL)