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Transcript of Using the Internet to Improve Information Literacy: The New Role of the Library/Media Specialist...
Using the Internet to Improve Information
Literacy: The New Role of the Library/Media
Specialist
IASL Conference 2000, Do you read me?Malmö, SwedenAugust 9, 2000
Presented by Dr. Sheila Offman GershCity College of New York
[email protected]://www.schoollink.org/twin
The Need for Lifelong Learners
• 1998 – 70% of all jobs will require significant basic technology literacy
• 2010 – 100 % of all jobs will require significant technology skills– 80% of the jobs don’t exist yet
What is Information Literacy
• The ability to evaluate information for accuracy and usefulness
• To transform data to information to insight
Essential Literacy Skills
• Text– to make meaning of electronic text– To discover relevant information
• Numerical– How to translate and analyze data, crunch
numbers, think mathematically, and understand about relationships
• Visual– Strategies of advertising, emotions of
paining, photography
What Librarian/Media Specialists Need to do:
• Provide services and technology to gain access to information
• Provide students with the skills to manage information resources– How to investigate, research and make
meaning from data
• Show students how to navigate through the vast databases to locate information
Changes is using information
• Pre-modem – students “found out about” research projects
• Post-modem – “students are making answers” to information
Assumptions About Information
• What assumptions are made about accuracy, value, usefulness
• On what do they base the assumptions?– Ricky Lake– CNN– Talk Show Hosts– Newspapers– Magazines
Recognizes that accurate and complete information is the basis for intelligent decision
making
• Citing Resources• Assessing Information• News sites
Recognizes the need for information
• Locates information that can’t be accessed elsewhere
• http://www.infosearcher.com/cybertours/tours/tour06/_tourlaunch1.htm
• http://www.SchoolNotes.com http://www.blackboard.com
Formulates questions based on information
needs• Students should be directed to sites
to find the information• http://www.homeworkcentral.com/• http://www.schoollink
.org/twin/searching_on_the_internet
.htm
• Other sites: BlueWebn, Ask Jeeves for Kids
Identifies potential sources of information
• Searches on the Internet (kids sites)
• Picks the best search tools• Bookmarks useful sites• Presents information in a
meaningful way• Uses other sources also
Develops Successful Search Strategies
• Creates subquestions– List keywords, concepts, subject
headings, descriptors
• Learns to use more than one source of information
• http://www.schoollink.org/workshops/search_tools.htm
Evaluates information
Scope Authority and Bias Accuracy Timeliness Permanence Value Added Features Presentation
Organizes information for practical application
• Solves information problems• Summarizes information• Draws conclusions• Examples:
– Projects– Keypal exchanges– Subject Matter Experts
Integrates New Information into Existing
Body of Knowledge
Creates New Products• WebQuests• CyberGuides• Web-Based Activities
Uses information in critical thinking and problem
solving• Reassesses the process for further
study• Creates an original product• http://prwww.ncook.k12.il.us/
LearningCenter/infolit/iladventpage/iladvent.html
Ways to Use the Internet
• Accessing Information - research• Communications- e-mail• Publishing- web pages
Internet Orientation Should Include
– Using browsers– Search strategies –
• engines• directories• megaengines
– Citing resources- copyright– Evaluating web sites- criteria– AUPs – purpose, examples
Stages of Problem Solving
• Define the need for information-– Ask the question
• Initiating the search strategy– Query
• Locating the resources– Research
• Accessing and comprehension– Search
Stages of Problem Solving
• Interpreting the information– Synthesize
• Communicating the information– Web Pages, Projects
• Evaluating the product and process– Critique
Curriculum Applications
• Collaborate with classroom teachers
• Find resources for teachers and students
• Communicate with specialists around the globe
Pitfalls in Teaching Information Literacy
• Size of the Internet• Ease of setting up a web presence• Lack of established WWW standards• Lack of established WWW source
documentation• Limitations of search engines• Infancy of Internet research• Inadequate critical thinking skills
Conclusion:
• Information literacy is the key to a successful technology initiative
• Libraries should provide services and technologies needed to gain access to information in order to create an information literate community