1. A National Information Literacy Framework for Scotland
Christine Irving
Glasgow Caledonian University
Project Partners and Advisory Group Explanatory Session
Thursday 19th April 2007

2. Recognition of need
To develop a national overarching framework of information literacy skills and competencies which all sectors of education can recognise and develop or which can be applied to the world of work, equipping learners with skills needed for the 21st century.

3. Research findings
Schools - information literacy skills were generally taught in first and second year (aged 12 / 13) but not subsequently reinforced within the curriculum resulting in fragmented levels of knowledge and usage for their remaining years at school.
HE - students arriving at university have generally either poor or limited information literacy skills, for some these skills will be enhanced but many will leave as they arrived.
The workplace - indication that although employers do not explicitly ask for information literacy it is implicitly expected, seen as important at work but not included in workplace training.

4. Some project deliverables
Draft framework developed in conjunction with partners
Evaluation exercise of draft framework
Identification of barriers and constraints
Contribution to curriculum development
Contribution to the IL agenda on a national and international basis.

5. Funding Problematic due to:
Lack of recognition and understanding of information literacy as a concept
Funding bodies are often sector specific
Success:
Spring learndirect scotland
Summer
Eduserv Information Literacy Initiatives

6. Developing the framework
Lots of thinking, agonising, reflecting
Looked at other frameworks – at home and abroad
Discussions with relevant bodies and individuals
Not reinventing the wheel
incorporate what is being used
look for common themes from existing models and definitions

7. Common Themes

8. A National Information Literacy Framework Scotland www. caledonian. ac
A National Information Literacy Framework Scotland
Skills for everyone

9. Contents Back ground information and provenance Acknowledgements
Information literacy – what it is
Information literacy and lifelong learning
Information literacy education
Use of the Information Literacy framework
The framework levels
Information literacy and assessment

10. Contents continued Information Literacy Levels Schools
Schools / Further Education
Further / Higher Education
Higher Education
lifelong learning including all information-using communities e.g. community learning and in the workplace

11. Draft Framework

12. Piloting
Partners from different sectors working at different levels within different subjects to provide
Examples of information tasks within different sectors at different levels and with different subjects and courses:
existing learning that is taking place
new activities that have been specifically created
Exemplars of how the skills, knowledge and understanding at different levels can be mapped into specific subjects or course design.

13. Appendices Examples of information literacy material
Existing skills definitions, frameworks and models used to inform the development of this national framework
SQA National Unit Qualification - Information Handling Skills DF9J 11 (Intermediate level 2)
Mind map of models, qualification and skills definition used in draft national framework
University of Abertay Dundee: Information Literacy Framework
Loughborough University Library Information Literacy: IL competencies

14. Still a long way to go Piloting Advocacy Funding
Need for practical examples to demonstrate how each level can be used within different sectors and for different subjects
Advocacy
Recognition of framework
Uptake of framework

15. For more information Christine Irving Project Officer (part-time)
National Information Literacy Framework
Learner Support
Glasgow Caledonian University
Room RS305, (3rd Floor)
6 Rose Street
Glasgow G3 6RB
Tel:
project website:
framework website

16. Questions?