Making It Click:

Information Literacy
at Darton College
Ru Story Huffman
Dean of Library Services
Georgia Southwestern State University
ru.story-huffman@gsw.edu
Too much information running
through my brain
Too much information
driving me insane

The Police., 1981.

Why Information Literacy?

Information Literacy Classes Surge at

Community Colleges
The Chronicle of Higher Education

Position Statement on Information Literacy

The National Council on Learning
Resources
Its Up to Standard
Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher
Education ACRL

Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning AASL

Standards for the 21st Century Learner AASL

Standards Across the
Curriculum
Research Competency Guidelines for Literatures in
English ACRL

Information Literacy Instructional Objectives for

Undergraduate Music Students MLA

Information Literacy Standards for Science and

Technology ALA/ACRL/STS Task Force

Information Literacy in the Disciplines ACRL

Where Does Information
Originate?
Newspapers

The Internet
(Web sties, Blogs, Social Networking Sites, Podcasts, RSS, Email,
etc., etc., etc.)

Magazines/Journals
Television Radio

Your Neighbor,
Parents,
Friends,
Professors
Random People We Dont Even Know
Information Overload &
Anxiety
Rapid delivery of information

Gap between what we understand

And what we think we should understand

Infobesity
Infoxication

Too. Much. Information

Too. Little. Synthesis.

Ridley, 2012
Making Information Click
Darton College QEP
Definition
Information literacy is a set of abilities
requiring individuals to "recognize
when information is needed and have
the ability to locate, evaluate, and use
effectively the needed information."
ALA, 2003
 At its broadest, information literacy
refers to a person's ability to access and
understand a variety of information
resources.
Lenox & Walker, 1993.
Think Pair Share
Information
Literacy
across the
Disciplines

My Definition Neighbors Similarities

Definition
An Information Literate Person
recognizes that accurate and complete
information is the basis for intelligent decision
making;
recognizes the need for information;
formulates questions based on information
needs;
identifies potential sources of information;
develops successful search strategies;
 access sources of information including
computer-based and other technologies;
evaluates information;
organizes information for practical application;
integrates new information into an existing body
of knowledge;
uses information in critical thinking and problem
solving.
Doyle, 1992
Goals of Information Literacy Curriculum
Learner-centered
Integrated and articulated with learning
outcomes
Reaches across the curriculum
Develops assessment methods
Emphasizes the process, methods and
strategies for satisfying an information need
 Information Literacy Instruction
Teaches
How to formulate a research question
How to develop a research strategy
How to find relevant information and evaluate
it
How to effectively expand ones knowledge
base
How to use information ethically
 Valuable

Accessibl
Desirable e

Informati
on
Useful Findable

Credible Usable
 ACRL Information Literacy
Competency Standards
Standard One
The information literate student determines the nature and extent
of the information needed.
Standard Two
The information literate student accesses needed information
effectively and efficiently.
Standard Four
The information literate student, individually or as a member of a
group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific
purpose.
Standard Five
The information literate student understands many of the
economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information
and accesses and uses information ethically and legally.
ACRL, 2003
Information Problem-Solving Completing an assignment for
Process class
Task Definition Task: 2-part paper on rain recycling and its
use to save water, with use of documented
supporting evidence

Information Seeking Consider all potential information sources.

Which current journals, books, Internet
Strategies resources and/or newspapers would be
best?

Location & Access Online database/card catalog to search.

Find articles online and in print. Locate
appropriate books.

Use of Information Read articles and books, etc. Highlight

important information. Type notes into word
processing program, citing sources.

Synthesis Use of a computer to create an outline and

draft paper.

Evaluation Realizing details are weak on one of two

parts, and need for additional information.
Topic Content Outcomes Assessment ACRL
Information
Literacy
Standard(s)

Career Students are to Students will Did student identify Standard One: The
Choice choose a career develop a thesis all necessary information literate
Composition and write a 5 page statement and requirements of the student determines
paper on the information needs. assignment. the nature and
necessary extent of the
education, information needed.
occupational Performance
outlook, and Indicator One: The
challenges of the information literate
career. Students student defines and
will also provide the articulates the need
professor with a for information.
concept map and
reference list.
 The only certainty is change.
We want students that
Need information
Find information
Evaluate & use information
Info Lit LibGuide
Scoop.it!
Pinterest
Resources
A Faculty Toolkit for Teaching Information Literacy
http://libguides.scc.spokane.edu/facultytoolkit

ACRL Information Literacy Resources

http://www.ala.org/acrl/issues/infolit

McClure, R. (2011). Googlepedia: Turning information behaviors

into research skills. Retrieved from http
://wac.colostate.edu/books/writingspaces2/mcclure-- googlepedia.pdf

WAC Clearinghouse
http://wac.colostate.edu/
Mini Lessons in Information Fluency
http://21cif.com/rkitp/course/five-mini-lessons/outline.html

TRAILS Information Literacy Lesson Plans

http://trails-informationliteracy.wikispaces.com/Lesson+Plans

National Forum on Information Literacy

http://infolit.org/

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.p21.org/index.php
Rus Resources
Information Literacy Subject Guide
http://libguides.gsw.edu/informationlit

Scoop It: Information Literacy/Web2.0

http://www.scoop.it/t/glma-summer-institute-2012

I Wanna Be Information Literate

http://www.pinterest.com/rustoryhuf/i-wanna-be-information-literate/

Making It Click
http://www.scribd.com/doc/175070510/Making-It-Click
References
ALA. (2003). Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. Retrieved from
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.htm#ildef
Adams, S. (1996). Dilbert. Retrieved from http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1996-08-18

Doyle, C.S. (1992) Final Report to National Forum on Information Literacy. (ED 351 033).

Lenox, M. F.,& Walker, M. L. (1993). Information literacy in the educational process. The Educational Forum. 57(2),312-324.

The Police. (1981). Too Much Information. On Ghost in the Machine [CD]. Los Angeles. A&M Records.

Ridley, M. (2012) Information Overload. Retrieved from http://www.beyondliteracy.com/information-overload/