Using the Internet to Improve Information

Literacy: The New Role of the Library/Media

Specialist

IASL Conference 2000, Do you read me?Malmö, SwedenAugust 9, 2000

Presented by Dr. Sheila Offman GershCity College of New York

sogcc@cunyvm.cuny.eduhttp://www.schoollink.org/twin

The Need for Lifelong Learners

• 1998 – 70% of all jobs will require significant basic technology literacy

• 2010 – 100 % of all jobs will require significant technology skills– 80% of the jobs don’t exist yet

What is Information Literacy

• The ability to evaluate information for accuracy and usefulness

• To transform data to information to insight

Essential Literacy Skills

• Text– to make meaning of electronic text– To discover relevant information

• Numerical– How to translate and analyze data, crunch

numbers, think mathematically, and understand about relationships

• Visual– Strategies of advertising, emotions of

paining, photography

What Librarian/Media Specialists Need to do:

• Provide services and technology to gain access to information

• Provide students with the skills to manage information resources– How to investigate, research and make

meaning from data

• Show students how to navigate through the vast databases to locate information

Changes is using information

• Pre-modem – students “found out about” research projects

• Post-modem – “students are making answers” to information

Assumptions About Information

• What assumptions are made about accuracy, value, usefulness

• On what do they base the assumptions?– Ricky Lake– CNN– Talk Show Hosts– Newspapers– Magazines

Characteristics of an Information Literate

Person

Recognizes that accurate and complete information is the basis for intelligent decision

making

• Citing Resources• Assessing Information• News sites

Recognizes the need for information

• Locates information that can’t be accessed elsewhere

• http://www.infosearcher.com/cybertours/tours/tour06/_tourlaunch1.htm

• http://www.SchoolNotes.com http://www.blackboard.com

Formulates questions based on information

needs• Students should be directed to sites

to find the information• http://www.homeworkcentral.com/• http://www.schoollink

.org/twin/searching_on_the_internet

.htm

• Other sites: BlueWebn, Ask Jeeves for Kids

Identifies potential sources of information

• Searches on the Internet (kids sites)

• Picks the best search tools• Bookmarks useful sites• Presents information in a

meaningful way• Uses other sources also

Develops Successful Search Strategies

• Creates subquestions– List keywords, concepts, subject

headings, descriptors

• Learns to use more than one source of information

• http://www.schoollink.org/workshops/search_tools.htm

Evaluates information

Scope Authority and Bias Accuracy Timeliness Permanence Value Added Features Presentation

Organizes information for practical application

• Solves information problems• Summarizes information• Draws conclusions• Examples:

– Projects– Keypal exchanges– Subject Matter Experts

Integrates New Information into Existing

Body of Knowledge

Creates New Products• WebQuests• CyberGuides• Web-Based Activities

Uses information in critical thinking and problem

solving• Reassesses the process for further

study• Creates an original product• http://prwww.ncook.k12.il.us/

LearningCenter/infolit/iladventpage/iladvent.html

Ways to Use the Internet

• Accessing Information - research• Communications- e-mail• Publishing- web pages

Internet Orientation Should Include

– Using browsers– Search strategies –

• engines• directories• megaengines

– Citing resources- copyright– Evaluating web sites- criteria– AUPs – purpose, examples

Stages of Problem Solving

• Define the need for information-– Ask the question

• Initiating the search strategy– Query

• Locating the resources– Research

• Accessing and comprehension– Search

Stages of Problem Solving

• Interpreting the information– Synthesize

• Communicating the information– Web Pages, Projects

• Evaluating the product and process– Critique

http://www.big6.com/comparison_chart.gif

Curriculum Applications

• Collaborate with classroom teachers

• Find resources for teachers and students

• Communicate with specialists around the globe

Pitfalls in Teaching Information Literacy

• Size of the Internet• Ease of setting up a web presence• Lack of established WWW standards• Lack of established WWW source

documentation• Limitations of search engines• Infancy of Internet research• Inadequate critical thinking skills

Conclusion:

• Information literacy is the key to a successful technology initiative

• Libraries should provide services and technologies needed to gain access to information in order to create an information literate community

THANK YOU

• QUESTIONS????