Download Advancing Information Literacy 2

ADVANCING INFORMATION
LITERACY
BY
Robert Wedgeworth
www.proliteracy.org
November 2, 2006
BACKGROUND
• As a librarian: technical services, systems,
management.
• As an observer and chronicler
• As an advocate for literacy
• As an early initiate to information literacy
EVOLUTION OF LITERACY
• 20th century literacy: reading and writing
• 21st century literacy: reading and writing
plus new formats and technologies
• Information literacy: added critical thinking
plus a willingness to view the process of
learning in new and different ways.
INFORMATION LITERACY
• Definition: “To be information literate, a
person must be able to recognize when
information is needed and have the ability
to locate, evaluate and use effectively the
information needed”.
• *ALA Presidential Commission on
Information Literacy, 1989.
ESSENTIALS OF
INFORMATION LITERACY
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•
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Mastery of skills
Experience in application
Literacy spectrum
Understanding the challenges and the
barriers
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT
LITERACY (READING)
• Reading is difficult for some
• Reading is an unnatural act
• Reading induces a psychological spiral up or
down
• Comprehension is the key
• Improvement comes only with practice
MYTHS ABOUT READING
• Early problems disappear with maturity
• Slow readers lack intelligence
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AT
CORNELL?
• More students entering college with less than
adequate literacy skills
• More time spent by faculty teaching basics that
should have been learned earlier.
• Information Literacy limitations do not respect
age, race, class, or socioeconomic status
LIBRARIES AND
INFORMATION
• PLUSES:
• Learning materials
• Professionally-trained
staff
• Facilities as labs for
learning
• MINUSES:
• Need developmental
information literacy
programs for-• Diagnostics
• Application practice
• Measurement and
Evaluation
DIAGNOSTICS
• Self-assessment of literacy skills
• Professional assessment of literacy skills
• Recommending developmental programs
APPLICATION PRACTICE
• Creating scheduled opportunities to apply
developmental recommendations
• Monitoring developmental programs
• Adjusting developmental recommendations
as indicated
MEASURING OUTCOMES
• Develop assessment practices based on
information literacy needs.
• Measure progress toward information
literacy goals
• Maintain records and follow-up assessments
to demonstrate outcomes of information
literacy training
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTIONS
•
•
•
•
•
Special contributions of private institutions
Early adopters
Innovators
Desire to be the best
Willingness to share successes
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTIONS
• More difficult for public institutions to lead
• Governance systems inhibit innovation
• Funding systems require greater
accountability
• Staffing patterns lack flexibility
LEADERS NEED TO LEAD
• Do not wait to be crowned
• Exert leadership in fulfilling mission
• Beg, borrow or steal innovations that can
assist your institutions
• Wag your own tail
AGE OF THE USER
• Internet is the full employment for librarians
• Library systems and infrastructures exist to
support and assist users
• Information Literacy is fundamental to
success in the Digital Age
• Libraries are a natural home for Information
Literacy