Approved by the Feinberg Library Faculty 5/23/03
LIS Instruction Unit and Library Faculty
Plattsburgh State University
General Education Program
Skills Category
Information and Technology Literacy
Information and Technology Literacy: “Courses in this category will ensure that
students have mastered the skills and concepts basic to information and technology
literacy. Students will demonstrate the ability to “perform the basic operations of
personal computer use; understand and use basic research techniques; and locate,
evaluate and synthesize information from a variety of sources” (SUNY Required
Learning Outcomes). Courses in this category will focus on the ability to use technology
effectively and the ability to filter, analyze, and critique information and experience
(Plattsburgh General Education Objectives). 1 credit.” Source: Plattsburgh General
Education Program 2002
Recommended Criteria for Information and Technology Literacy Courses:
Courses that satisfy the Information and Technology Literacy requirement will have four
characteristics:

Instructional activities on finding, evaluating, citing, and using information in
print and electronic sources from the Feinberg and other libraries, the World Wide
Web, and other sources, and basic operations of personal computer and common
academic software use. Courses should address questions on the ethical use of
information, intellectual property (including fair use, copyright, plagiarism and
citations), issues and uses of technology in society and other related issues that
promote critical reflection.

Assignments, course work, or tutorials that make extensive use of the Feinberg
and other libraries, the World Wide Web and other information sources, and the
Plattsburgh campus computing environment and resources. Assignments should
include finding, evaluating, and citing information sources, and the use of
computers and software to manage information.

At least one project that requires students to synthesize and integrate the course
content; and that allows students to demonstrate their abilities to find, evaluate,
cite, and manage information presented in diverse formats from multiple sources,
using basic computer and software applications.

Inclusion of content and active learning activities addressing each of the required
introductory level learning outcomes in the attached list. (These derive from the
Plattsburgh State University Task Force on Information and Computer Literacy Final Report ).
Adapted and revised from the University at Albany (an ACRL Information Literacy Best Practices Model Program,)
Criteria at http://library.albany.edu/usered/faculty/infolit.html
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Approved by the Feinberg Library Faculty 5/23/03
LIS Instruction Unit and Library Faculty
Plattsburgh State University General Education
Program
Skills Category
Information and Technology Literacy
Required Minimum Introductory Level Learning Outcomes:
1. Determine Information Need
Define and articulate the need
Identify types and formats of sources
2. Access Information Effectively
Select appropriate methods and systems
Construct and implement search strategies
Retrieve online and print information
3. Evaluate Information Critically and Incorporate Information Into Knowledge Base
Articulate and apply evaluative criteria
4. Understand Economic, Legal, Social Issues in Information
Demonstrate understanding of legal issues such as: intellectual property rights,
copyright, or fair use
Demonstrate understanding of economic and social issues such as: censorship,
academic freedom, access to information, information privatization, Internet
privacy and security, or the digital divide
5. Information Technology Skills to Use Today’s Computers
Use basic computer operating features
Use or understand the uses of common academic computer software such as:
word processing, spreadsheets, databases, or graphics and presentation software
Connect to the network services such as: Banner, Web, Email
Use Internet services such as: browsers, search engines, and tutorials
6. Understand Principles and Concepts of Information Technology **
Describe/define the basic principles of computing systems and networks
Articulate the principles of information organization
Demonstrate understanding of the potentials and limits of information technology
in society
**The phrase “Information Technology” used above refers here to basic computing technology literacy
The Instruction Unit selected introductory standards and learning outcomes from the final report of the
Plattsburgh State University Task Force on Information and Computer Literacy Final Report.
http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/holly.hellerross/Infolittaskforce.htm
The Task Force based its recommendations on standards for information literacy titled Information Literacy
Competency Standards for Higher Education.
published by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) in 2000.
Recommendations for technology literacy were based on work done by the National Academy of Sciences'
National Research Council, published in 1999 as Being Fluent with Information Technology.
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