The University Libraries has a number of working groups focused on aspects of instruction, teaching, learning and literacy. For internal communications across working groups, please email OLibTeL. We are happy to hear any comments or suggestions for improving this guide.
If you are not with the University Libraries and have questions about how the Libraries can support your classes and students, please submit a ticket here or contact your liaison librarian.
Chasz Griego (chair), Emily Davis, Lynn Kawaratani, Sarah Young
Kristin Heath (chair), Jessica Benner, Kelly Woessner
Sarah Young (chair), Melanie Gainey, Jimmy McKee
Emma Slayton (chair), Emily Bongiovanni, Jill Chisnell, Charlotte Kiger-Price, Haoyong Lan, Matt Marsteller
Ashley Werlinich (chair), Crystal Johnson, Reya Saliba, Kristen Scotti, Ryan Splenda, Erin Swift
Definitions:
- A “set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze, and use information." - ACRL
- "... the hyper-ability to know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information for the issue or problem at hand." United States National Forum on Information Literacy
Other definitions focus on aspects of literacy such as digital literacy, metaliteracy, etc.
Bibliographic Instruction v. Information Literacy
|
Bibliographic Instruction |
Information Literacy |
Responsibility/Control |
Instructor-led |
Collaborative responsibility |
Relation to curriculum |
External/tangential |
Integral |
Placement in curriculum |
Isolated learning episodes (one-shot, workshop, unlinked credit courses) |
Pervasive throughout the curriculum, linked credit courses, competency requirements |
Content focus |
Tools, search interfaces |
Overarching concepts, critical thinking processes, thinking standards |
Teaching methods |
Librarian control/didactic approaches |
Construction of learning environments; librarian and faculty act as guides, facilitators |
Learning transfer |
Limited (except skills) |
Increased due to multiple learning opportunities, internal motivation, deeper grasp of concepts |
Assessment |
Focus on limited evaluations, skill-based measurements |
Focus on competencies, standards as yardstick for outcomes based approaches |
Relationship to place |
Focus on specific libraries |
Focus on unbounded universe of information |
Role of technology |
Limited, used in relatively inflexible ways |
Expanded role, variety of technologies selected to match instructional situations (“technology as a lever”) |
Created by Craig Gibson, Associate University Librarian for Public Services at George Mason University, and Karen Williams, Digital Library Initiatives Team Leader, the University of Arizona for the Immersion Program at ACRL/Institute for Information Literacy and Copyright held by ALA. |
Teaching & Learning Principles:
Backward Design
Inquiry-Based Learning
Reconciling Information Literacy with the ACRL Framework (select articles):
Amy Hofer, Sylvia Lu, and Lori Townsend discuss ways in which threshold concepts can be incorporated in information literacy instruction.
Reconciling Information Literacy with the ACRL Framework (select articles):
Suggestions and/or feedback should be sent to OLibTel.