Librarian
What is Information Literacy?
According to the American Library Association, "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.'"
The purpose of this guide is to provide information literacy skills so that students can effectively locate and evaluate information.
Evaluate Your Sources
Evaluating the quality and the credibility of the information you find is a crucial step in the research process. The questions you ask about books, periodical articles, multimedia titles, or webpages are similar whether you're looking at a citation to the item, a physical item in hand, or an electronic version on a computer. Use one or more of the methods outlined below to carefully evaluate the sources that you find.
Comparing Resource Evaluation Methods
Stop - Investigate the source - Find better coverage - Trace claims, quotes and media to the original context
Strengths:
- Designed for online information
- Includes the context of the information needed as part of evaluation
Weaknesses:
- Requires practice
- Search algorithms can be manipulated
Strategy that involves leaving a website to see what others say about it before investing time into a closer examination of the site. Lateral reading is a method for identifying misinformation online that is used by professional fact-checkers.
Strengths:
- Investigating the source, rather than the information
- Strategy- rather than a checklist- which allows for critical thinking
- Combats misinformation effectively
- Best for online news, social media, and fast-changing information
Weaknesses:
- Can be difficult for beginners
Currency/Timeliness - Relevance - Authority - Accuracy - Purpose
Strengths:
- Can be useful for books and articles
Weaknesses:
- Checklist-style encourages binary thinking rather than critical thinking
- Does not ask students to consider the context of sources sufficiently
- Emphasis on data that can be manipulated, making evaluation misleading
- Designed to evaluate print collections, has not adapted to properly evaluate digital resources
- Not effective for online information/social media
ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education
The ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education was adopted by the ACRL in 2016. The Framework is a tool for guiding the development of information literacy programs within higher education institutions while promoting discussion about the nature of key concepts in information literacy. The Framework encourages a deeper understanding of what knowledge practices and dispositions characterize the learners.
The Framework is organized into six frames, each consisting of a concept central to information literacy. The frames are:
- Authority is Constructed and Contextual
- Information Creation as a Process
- Information Has Value
- Research as Inquiry
- Scholarship as Conversation
- Searching as Strategic Exploration
About | ACRL Framework for Information Literacy Sandbox. https://sandbox.acrl.org/.