Information Literacy & Information Literacy & Lifelong Learning: Concepts Lifelong Learning: Concepts And ImportanceAnd Importance

Ps. Charles N. E. AmoahValley View University

Credit: Prof Albert K. BoekhorstUniversiteit van Amsterdam

University of Pretoria

To survive and developTo survive and develop People and

organizations need information and knowledge

About themselves

Their physical environment and

Their social environment in order to survive and thrive

Survival of the fittestSurvival of the fittest Those organizations and individuals who

are capable and able to effectively satisfy their information and ICT needs efficiently are more able to survive and develop themselves than… those with less advantageous traits…

Said Charles Darwin “…it is not the strongest of the species that

survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change …

Our students areOur students are Overwhelmed with information choices Spending hours searching the internet

for information easily found in an almanac or other print source

Showing the inability to synthesize information found

Failing to evaluate sources found, or their relevance to the project

Clicking and not reading Engaging in rampant plagiarism. Cutting

and pasting but not reading or understanding

Hit the print button and thinking they’ve accomplished their research

Regurgitating ideas of others - no original thought

Physical

Intellectual

In the 21In the 21stst Century… Century…

Technological Developments

Information Glut

(Explosion)

Globalization

Information Dependency

CONSTANT CHANGE

Scientific Developments

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Lifelong learningLifelong learning

All learning activities undertaken throughout life on an ongoing basis in a variety of formal and informal settings, with the aim of

improving knowledge, skills, understanding and competence,

within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective

(NIACE, 2003)

InformatisationInformatisation: : Effects for Effects for peoplepeople

Exponential growth of information, information media, information channels and information services

Growth of technology, tools and applications to retrieve, process and disseminate information

Changes in communication patterns and behaviour

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American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association (1989)(1989)

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

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Information NeedsInformation Needs

Environment

Social role

Personal

Characteristics

Information Needs

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Degree of information Degree of information needsneeds

uncertainty

importance

low high

low 1Low need ofinformation

2Moderate need of information

high 3Moderate need of

information

4High need of information

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Information literacyInformation literacy

2003 Prague Declaration 2003 Prague Declaration

“Information Literacy encompasses knowledge of one’s information concerns and needs, and the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, organize and effectively create, use and communicate information to address issues or problems at hand; it is a prerequisite for participating in the Information Society, and is part of the basic human right of life long learning.”

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2003 Prague Declaration 2003 Prague Declaration

"Towards an Information Literate Society" and Information SocietyThe creation of an information society

is key to social, cultural and economic development

Information Literacy is a prerequisite for participating effectively in the information sociey

Information literacy plays a leading role in reducing the enequities within and among poe

2005 Alexandria 2005 Alexandria ProclamationProclamation

Beacons of the Information Society Information literacy lies at the core of

lifelong learning empowering people to seek, evaluate, use and create information effectively. Information Literacy Comprises the competencies to recognise

information need, locate, evaluate, apply and create information

Is crucial to competitive advnatage Extends beyond current technonlogies to

encompass learning, critical thingking and interpretative skills

Information Literacy In Information Literacy In Knowledge Life CycleKnowledge Life Cycle

Starts from youth to post work age In secondary education teachers and

librarians impart Information Literacy competency through Information Literacy programs

Through formal and informal ways a person acquires new sets of knowledge which is ultimately used to create wealth and welfare

In post work life individuals share wisdom and experience with younger generation.

Knowledge Life Cycle: Knowledge Life Cycle: Integration Of Information Integration Of Information LiteracyLiteracy

Proceedings Of The Intern. Conf. On Information Literacy (ICIL 2006)

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AspectsAspects1. Recognition of information need2. Translation of information need

into query3. Identification of suitable

information source4. Application of knowledge of

relevant ICT5. Selection, integration,

dissemination of found information. 6. Continuous evaluation

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Iterating processIterating process

2. formulateinformation

query

3. knowledgeinformation

sources

4. knowledge of ICT applications

5. selectionintergration

dissemination

evaluation moment

1. recognizeinformation

need

1’. recognizeinformation

need

SCONUL 7 pillars of information SCONUL 7 pillars of information literacyliteracy

Recognise information need

Distinguish ways of addressing gap

Construct strategies for locating

Synthesise and create

Organise, apply and communicate

Compare and evaluate

Locate and access

Info

rmatio

n L

itera

cy

Basic Library Skills

&

IT Skills

http://www.sconul.ac.uk/

Related termsRelated terms

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Harris & Hodges (1995)Harris & Hodges (1995) Adult literacy Advanced literacy Basic literacy Bi-literacy Community literacy Computer literacy Critical literacy Cultural literacy Emergent literacy Family literacy Functional literacy

Informational literacy

Library literacy Marginal literacy Media literacy Minimal literacy Restricted literacy Survival literacy Technology Literacy Visual literacy Workplace literacy

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3 concepts3 concepts The ICT concept:

Information literacy refers to the competence to use ICT to retrieve and disseminate information.

The information (re)sources concept:Information literacy refers to the competence to

find and use information independently or with the aid of intermediaries.

The information process concept:Information literacy refers to the process of

recognizing information need, the retrieving, evaluating, use and dissemination of information to acquire or extend knowledge.

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How: by learningHow: by learning

In the socialisation process: ‘By doing’ Formal educationInformal education

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GovernmentsGovernments

National governments have a specific responsibility:They determine the form and content

of the educational system in which pupils are prepared for their future lives as responsible and participative citizens

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Becoming information Becoming information literateliterate

Cannot be learned in a distinct subject

Integrated in any subject Coordination between ‘teachers’ &

‘librarians’

Information Literacy Information Literacy ContinumContinum

Catts&Lau 2008

Catts&Lau 2008

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Learning Line & MomentsLearning Line & Moments

Educational level A

Educational level B

Educational level C

Life Long Learning

curr

icul

um

time

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AimAim

From Unconscious Incompetent

ViaConscious Incompetent

ToConscious Competent

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StakeholdersStakeholders

Management Institute/School Teachers ‘Librarians’

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So far ‘So far ‘Information literacy’ Information literacy’

Is a container concept It’s a dynamic concept Being ‘Information Literate’ is a competence:

a critical Attitude about: What am I doing? What am I doing this for? With what am I doing this?

Knowledge about: the organization and quality of information resources and

channels acquiring access to information

Skills: being able to use required skills and technology

Part of Life Long Learning

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IFLA Information Literacy SectionIFLA Information Literacy Section

http://www.ifla.org/VII/s42/index.htm

InfoLit: IFLA Information Literacy Section Discussion List

Infolitglobal http://www.infolitglobal.info/

IL logo http://www.infolitglobal.info/logo/

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Thank You. Any Thank You. Any Questions?Questions?

neleduh@yahoo.com