Information Literacy in Finnish University Libraries

Academic Information Skills In th University of Helsinki the first common Information Literacy project started in the i in Separate user training programs in all university libraries in Finland –laborous The project strived: -to produce learning material for IL-studies -to harmonize user training programs in HU libraries -to develope IL-programs for different stages of studies

Infoavain Instructs users in the search for and to produce scientific information Links are connected with a short description of the content

National Information Literacy Curriculum Project htm Funded by Ministry of Education in Coordinated in the University of Helsinki University libraries wanted to integrate IL into academic studies

ICT Driving Licence – Who? A shared project of the University of Helsinki Project Coordinator – financed: autumn 2004 – 2005 Continuing 2006: 1 man-year plus translation of the learning material (English and Swedish) Team persons from all faculties (11): – Teachers – Support persons for educational technology staff – Faculty and campus libraries, Undergraduated library – IT Department – Open University, University of Helsinki

ICT Driving Licence – What? Common learning material plus faculty tailored part Learning material: 1. Introduction to the use of computers 2. Describes the computer environment at the University of Helsinki 3. Modifying and presenting data 4. Information seeking ” Learning goals: the new student will be able to use the services of the University of Helsinki libraries, and to seek information from different sources. She/he will be familiar with different search techniques, with which she/he can make her/his work more effective. In addition, she/he will know the basics of copyrights.” 5. Data security and privacy protection

4. Information seeking Contents: 1. Planning the information search 2. Finding material from the HELKA database ( the libraries at the University of Helsinki) 3. Seeking information about a specific subject 4. Utilising and evaluating search results National Project for Studying Plan for Information Literacy – – ICT Driving Licence made it possible to integrate the information literacy into the curriculum of the first year students in every faculty =>

Recommendation for universities for including information literacy competency in the new degree structures III Master’s level studies: Information literacy in advanced level studies: integrated into the Master’s thesis seminar II Bachelor’s level studies: Information literacy in intermediate level studies: integrated into the proseminar/Bachelor’s thesis seminar I New students: Basics in information literacy: (part of compulsory general studies, e.g. part of ICT studies) Integration into the curriculum Deepening IL- skills,by using them actively as a tool for theacademic studies

ICT Driving Licence – How? Learning material (produced together) Entry level tests and final exams (examination) – Questions and tasks produced together – in WebCT (e-learning environment): Technically OK Questions and tasks are in continuous development process (focusing, targeting, measuring skills) Teaching sessions – Faculty tailored part – Support material for the teaching staff

Klaara Question Bank Surveys, proficiency tests and online exams within and between universities Coordinator in the Universtiy of Vaasa, Tritonia Academic Library

Information Literacy Network The steering committee of the project went on working ín 2007 Coordinator: the Library of Behavioral Sciences in the University of Helsinki www-pages were renewed tm tm Seminars in Kuopio and Helsinki – pedagogical instruction to IL- librarians INFORMAATIOLUKUTAITO – a book on Information Literacy was published by the steering committee

International relationship NORDINFOLIT : IL- network in the Nordic Countries International Infromation Literacy seminar in August / Visit to Britain Contacts with IFLA, CILIP, SCONUL ect.