1. Information Literacy – where we are at
Margaret Appleton
Central Queensland University
May 2003

3. What is information literacy?
Generic attributes
e-literacy
Information Literacy Standards
Current issues

4. 1. What do we mean by information literacy?

5. “Information literacy is an understanding and set of abilities enabling individuals to ‘recognise when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information.’ An information literate person has learned how to learn, and is able to:

6. Recognise a need for information
Determine the extent of information needed
Access the needed information efficiently
Evaluate the information and its sources
Incorporate selected information into their knowledge base
Use information effectively to accomplish a purpose

7. Understand economic, legal, social and cultural issues in the use of information
Access and use information ethically and legally
Classify, store, manipulate and redraft information collected or generated
Recognise information literacy as a prerequisite for lifelong learning

8. Developing Lifelong Learners through Undergraduate Education
Developing Lifelong Learners through Undergraduate Education. (Candy, Crebert and O’Leary)

9. Information literacy is a multi-faceted phenomenon which encompasses:
knowledge of major current resources in relevant field of study
ability to frame researchable questions in relevant fields of study
ability to locate, evaluate, manage and use information in a variety of contexts
ability to retrieve information using a variety of media
ability to interpret information in a variety of forms (written, statistical, graphs, charts, diagrams, tables)
critical evaluation of information

10. Australian Information Literacy standards
Christine Bruce’s ‘the seven faces of information literacy’
CAUL Information Literacy Assessment project
Institutional based projects to facilitate the embedding of I.L. into the curriculum

11. 2. Generic attributes

12. How do we view the relationship between Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy?

16. 3. e-Literacy

17. Information technology literacy is the ability to:
Operate and communicate with technological devices
Understand how subsystems fit together to form systems or networks
Understand documentation and how to utilise applications software
Understand the basic jargon or terminology of information technology
Solve problems through the use of technology
Identify and use alternate sources of information
Discuss the history and future of information technology
Have some insight into the ethical and human impact issues of information technology.
(Penrod and Douglas 1986)

18. The e-literate person can effectively use information technology and is able to:
Record, organise and store information in a way that other users can easily view and understand, and be communicated to others
Capture and record detailed information into a database program i.e. to store information in a way that is not only logical and easy to use, but can be accessed at will and in a variety of formats

19. Use technology to communicate with colleagues and friends
Export/Import files to/from their own and other systems
Build web pages
Maintain computer files
Have a basic understanding of computer systems and networks
Transfer computer skills between operating systems
Understand legal and ethical issues in the use of IT and uses IT legally and ethically

20. 4. Information Literacy Standards

21. Use of standards in curriculum development

23. Mapping courses and programs

24. Standard One
The information literate person recognises the need for information and determines the nature and extent of the information needed.

25. Outcomes:
1.1 The information literate person defines and articulates the need for information.
1.2 The information literate person understands the purpose, scope and appropriateness of a variety of information sources.
1.3 The information literate person consciously considers the costs and benefits of acquiring the needed information.
1.4 The information literate person re-evaluates the nature and extent of the information need.

33. Performance measurement and benchmarking information literacy

34. Information Literacy – where we are at