UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

UNESCO &

INFORMATION LITERACY

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

UNESCO Constitution:

• To increase the means of communication between peoples

Post-war mandate:

• To promote the free flow of ideas by word and image• To maintain, increase and diffuse knowledge

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Premise:• Knowledge is the driving force of social and economic transformation.

Strategies:• Standard setting• Encouraging international cooperation • Promoting development of education and spread of culture• Conserving and protecting the world’s heritage

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Fields of competence:

• Education• Science• Social and Human Sciences• Culture• Communication and Information

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Literacy - basic element

Communication: media literacyInformation: information literacy

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

2000:• Information for All Programme

2003:• UN Literacy Decade 2003-2012• IL Meeting of Experts, Prague• WSIS

2004:• Information literacy programme

2005:• Thematic Debate on Information Literacy

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

UNLD = Expanded concept of literacy

• Reading and writing +• Ability to locate, evaluate and effectively use information in multiple manners• Ability to use varying levels of analysis, degrees of abstraction, more sophisticated symbol manipulation• Application of theoretical knowledge, other skills

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

WSIS:

• New skills for the Information Society: ICT literacy

Prague Meeting of Experts:

• Prerequisite for participating effectively in the Information Society: Information literacy

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Information Literacy Programme:

Objectives• To foster IL citizenry• To encourage effective practices in IL• To propose innovative IL curricula

Strategy• Policy statement• Curriculum• Trained teachers, professional development

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Proposed activities• International awareness-raising campaign• International colloquium of IL experts• Introductory guide for policy makers/teachers• Modular IL curriculum for teacher education• Pilot projects to empower communities• International collection of IL teaching/learning resources

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Thematic Debate on IL

Purpose• To suggest parameters for definition to be used by UNESCO• To discuss UNESCO’s role in promoting IL

Questions• What is IL?• What are people’s needs?• What education programmes needed?• What strategies and actions by UNESCO?

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

What is IL?

• Not a well understood concept• Not translated easily, difficult to promote• One of 19 literacies• Ability to evaluate information critically• Ability to create information• Ability to use knowledge and information interactively• Ambiguous terms in some definitions• How to determine if one is information literate• Should be a basic human right

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

What are people’s needs?

• Varied needs and contexts• Different solutions necessary• Information about health, environment, education, work• ICT literacy to access digital information

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

What education programmes?

• IL curriculum at all levels• Change of focus: technologies information• Education programmes for teachers• IL as cornerstone component in delivering UNLD programmes

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Strategies

• Communicate concept• Encourage partnerships • Engage governments in dialogue• Embed IL in curriculum at all levels• Embed IL in professional development• Encourage partnerships between teachers and librarians• Promote IL in health sector

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Actions

• Collaborate with IFLA and others• Publish agreed definition• Produce guidelines• Initiate global awareness campaign• Establish global IL clearinghouse• Make IL an integral part of EFA• Develop an instrument to encourage greater recognition of IL• Encourage discussion on IL by IFAP National Committee

UNESCO/IFLA Workshop on Development of Information Literacy Education, 19-22 September 2005, Bangkok, Thailand

Actions

• Develop model curricula• Promote information science as a discipline• Encourage coordination/collaboration among media educators and other information professionals• Promote information skills professional development• Encourage librarians to take leadership role in promoting IL in schools, etc.