Information Literacy Standards for the 21 st Century Learners

What is Information Literacy? The American Library Association has described Information literate as the ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Evolution of Economy Barrer’s (1996) study on the new workplace indicates significant changes for the future. Workers will become more:  Decentralized  Diverse  Global  The need for temporary workers will increase

Meeting the Needs of the Workforce These changes will require workers to possess information literacy skills. We will need to educate the future workforce beyond reading, writing and arithmetic. Information literacy will be a must!

Key Focus for Education We must meet the demands of the workforce and higher education. We must harness the power of information. This requires the ability to effectively evaluate and use information.

Standards for the 21 st Century Learner In 2007 the American Association of School Librarians restructured the standards for school librarians. Focus addresses these skills:  Information  Technology  Visual  Textual  Digital

Key Goals Four key goals are organized around these skills. 1.Learners use of skill, resources and tools 2.To inquire, think critically and gain knowledge 3.Draw conclusions, make decisions, apply knowledge to new situations and create new knowledge share knowledge and participate ethically and productively as members of our democratic society. 4.Pursue personal and aesthetic growth.

Collaboration A collaborative approach to curriculum development among classroom teachers, librarians, technology teachers and other educators is the way to best service our students. Working together to analyze student curriculum needs, develop broad instruction plans, set information literacy goals and design specific units and lessons that integrate information skills and classroom content.

Primary Goal Provide frequent opportunities for students to learn and practice information problem solving. Students proficiency will improve over time if they are afforded regular opportunities to learn and apply the skills they have learned. A process approach will help achieve this goal!

The Process Approach Independent Investigation Method is a proven process approach to information literacy. IIM is a seven step process 1.Topic 2.Goal Setting 3.Research 4.Organizing 5.Goal Evaluation 6.Product 7.Presentation

Topic Basic Level Proficient Level Students web prior knowledge and questions on a concept map for their independent topic assigned or chosen from the class unit of study. The teacher works with students to develop a concept map on a topic from the class unit.

Goal Setting Basic LevelProficient Level The teacher helps students set goals for their research studies. The teacher leads students in developing good questions to frame the class research study.

Research Basic LevelProficient Level Students use a variety of resource types to gather and record information using note facts. After the teacher models taking note facts from two types of resources, students work in teams to take their own note facts from other resources

Organizing Basic LevelProficient level Students organize note facts by categories. Student teams organize all note facts from sources #1, #2 and #3

Goal Evaluation Basic LevelProficient Level Students demonstrate knowledge acquisition and skills development by completing teacher-chosen activities. The class evaluates knowledge acquisition and research process skills.

Product Basic LevelProficient Level Students create products to show what they have learned during their research studies. Each student team makes a product to share what they have learned.

Presentation Basic LevelProficient Level Students present products to an appropriate audience. The teams present products to the class Independent IIM Students are ready to begin independent or small group IIM’s using topics from the same or a future class unit.