Topic 2 - ENGAGING WITH INFORMATION
Aim
This topic provides an opportunity to develop information literacy, a term that is
increasingly reflected in university descriptions of desirable graduate attributes or
is given recognition as a strategy used to help achieve desirable graduate
attributes. Many definitions of the term exist; however, according to the Prague
Declaration (2003), information literacy refers to the development of particular
knowledge, skills and processes on the part of information users. It helps to create
self-directed and reflective information users, enables lifelong learning, and should
be valued as a human right:
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 effectively in the
Information Society, and is part of the basic human right of
lifelong-learning. 1
Outcomes
On completion of this topic, students should be able to:
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1
identify the features and purpose of various information resources
locate different types of information from a variety of sources
evaluate information from a variety of sources
reference information both in-text and end-text using a recognised
referencing system
identify ethical issues related to the presentation of information
locate resources to assist with the communication of information
locate information which provides assistance with university learningrelated issues
The Prague Declaration: Towards an information literate society, 2003, viewed Jan 7,
2008, at:
http://www.nclis.gov/libinter/infolitconf&meet/postinfolitconf&meet/PragueDeclaration.
pdf
2.1
Examining the
Course Profile
Bb discussion
2.2
Identifying
Resources
Bb discussion
2.3
Navigating the
Library
Bb discussion
2.4
Finding What’s
Relevant
Bb discussion
2.5
Using Only the
Best
Bb discussion
2.6
Ethical Use of
Information
Bb discussion
2.7
Exploring
Referencing
Bb discussion
2.8
Applying
Referencing
Bb discussion
2.9
Communicating
Information
Bb discussion
2.10
Supporting
Learning
Bb discussion
Locating the course profile
and becoming familiar with
its content.
Identifying the various
resources in course reading
lists e.g. journal articles,
book chapters, books,
websites etc so that they
may be located in relevant
sources e.g. databases,
Library catalogue, WWW.
Using Library’s services and
products which can assist in
locating specific or ‘known’
resources, that is, resources
for which citation or other
details, such as call numbers
or the name of the author or
the title of a book, have
been provided.
Using Library’s services and
products which can assist in
locating ‘unknown’
resources, i.e. resources
about a particular topic.
Locating creditable,
scholarly or academic
information.
Awareness of ethical issues
that need to be considered
when presenting written and
spoken information at
university.
Understanding the nature
and requirements of
referencing.
Presenting citations in
assessment tasks specifically in relation to intext citations and the
compiling of reference lists.
Locating resources which
will assist with the writing
and presenting of
information while studying
at university.
Locating resources relevant
to obtaining assistance with
learning-related issues such
as personal, career and
general study issues.
Completed
In Progress
Description
Resources
Learning
Task
No.
Learning Task List
The course profile – a source of information
During your studies, you will be required to locate information from a range of
information sources including print and electronic sources. Your lecturers, tutors
and peers may also provide valuable information. The course profile is another very
useful information source as it provides you with details relating to a course's
structure, content, assessment and contacts.
Learning Task 2.1 - Examining the Course Profile
Go to Information Literacy Unit 1 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to find out about various sources and
types of information including the course profile. This material will assist you in
completing Information Literacy Quiz 1.
Reading list resources
A course reading list can contain citations (references) to many types of resources
including journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, and websites. It is
important to be able to identify the type of resource you are wanting to access
before you begin to search for it. A book, for example, may be able to be located
by searching the Library Catalogue, whereas a journal article could be located
within a database.
Learning Task 2.2 - Identifying Resources
Go to Information Literacy Unit 2 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes to find
help with identifying various resources that may appear in a course reading list.
This material will assist you in completing Information Literacy Quiz 2.
Finding specific resources using the Library
An easy and important first step in researching a topic is locating resources that
are known to you, that is, resources for which citation or other details, such as call
numbers, have been provided. These specific resources can be found in reading
lists, or they may be suggested to you by your peers or lecturers, in a class, in
online forums, or in general conversation.
The CQU Library provides a gateway to finding these resources in the Catalogue, in
databases and via Course Resources Online (CROs).
Learning Task 2.3 - Navigating the Library
Go to Information Literacy Unit 3 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to find out about the Library’s
services and products which can assist you in locating specific resources. The two
hour Library workshop will also provide useful information about this topic. The
Unit 3 material and the Library workshop will assist you in completing Information
Literacy Quiz 3.
Finding resources on a particular topic
During your studies, you will be required to locate your own information from a
range of information sources. This will enable you to increase further your
knowledge about a particular topic and to complete prescribed assessment tasks.
To increase your chances of finding relevant information, it is important to know
how to conduct effective searches of the Library Catalogue, databases and the
Web.
Learning Task 2.4 - Finding What’s Relevant
Go to Information Literacy Unit 4 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to find out the most effective ways of
finding relevant resources about a particular topic. The two hour Library workshop
will also provide useful information about this topic. The Unit 4 material and the
Library workshop will assist you in completing Information Literacy Quiz 4.
Finding creditable, scholarly or academic information
Whilst at university, you will be required to find creditable, scholarly or academic
information to support your arguments. Scholarly or academic information is
usually written by academics for an academic audience. This type of information
can be found in academic or scholarly books but is also often found in refereed
journals. The articles in such journals have been officially reviewed and selected
for publishing by other academics in the field, and often contain original research.
Learning Task 2.5 - Using Only the Best
Go to Information Literacy Unit 5 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to find out how creditable, scholarly
or academic information may be located. This material will assist you in
completing Information Literacy Quiz 5.
Responsibilities associated with using information
An essential aspect of engaging with information is to ensure that it is dealt with in
a responsible manner. This involves being aware of issues such as correct
referencing procedures, the use of inclusive language, and abiding by copyright
regulations.
Learning Task 2.6 - Ethical Use of Information
Go to Information Literacy Unit 6 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to help you become familiar with
some of the ethical issues that you need to consider when presenting written and
spoken information at university. This material will assist you in completing
Information Literacy Quiz 6.
An introduction to referencing
All students should be aware of why referencing is important, when it needs to be
done, and how to reference correctly. Learning to reference correctly is an
essential skill for many reasons including the fact that failure to do so can incur
very serious penalty.
Learning Task 2.7 - Exploring Referencing
Go to Information Literacy Unit 7 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information, to find out about the nature and
requirements of referencing. This material will assist you in completing
Information Literacy Quiz 7.
Using the Harvard referencing style
CQU endorses several different referencing styles and the Harvard referencing style
is only one of these, however, it is the style required to be used for this course.
Students need to be aware that even within the one university program, different
courses may require the use of different referencing styles.
Learning Task 2.8 - Applying Referencing
Go to Information Literacy Unit 8 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information about presenting references in
assessment tasks, specifically in relation to the use of in-text citations, quoting
and compiling a reference list. This material will assist you in completing
Information Literacy Quiz 8.
Effective communication of information
Being able to effectively communicate information in both the written and spoken
modes is essential in many formal and informal university situations. In
examinations and tutorials, for example, effective communication of information is
essential.
Learning Task 2.9 - Communicating Information
Go to Information Literacy Unit 9 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and open
and read the links to additional information concerning resources that
will assist with the writing and presenting of information while studying at
university. This material will assist you in completing Information Literacy Quiz 9.
Student learning assistance
Central Queensland University offers many forms of assistance to its students. This
assistance can be found, for instance, on the CQU website, in the online student
handbook, in the course profiles, and on the CQU Library website, or in person by
consulting with staff members.
Support for CQU students can cover help with assignments, careers advice, general
study support, advocacy, and consultation services (if you have financial and/or
personal issues that are affecting on your studies).
Learning Task 2.10 - Supporting Learning
Go to Information Literacy Unit 10 on the Blackboard site. Read the notes, and
open and read the links to additional information about locating assistance with
learning-related issues such as personal, career and general study issues. This
material will assist you in completing Information Literacy Quiz 10.
Summary
This topic attempts to support and promote the view that engaging with
information in a meaningful way is achieved through the development of
information literacy. As a student, you will engage with information in a myriad of
ways, for example, you will encounter extensive information access and resources,
and face diverse and abundant information choices; you will be confronted with
the challenges of evaluating, understanding and using information in an ethical and
legal manner. In your investigation of this topic, you have been presented with
opportunities to learn about, explore, and use some of the knowledge, skills and
processes associated with the development of information literacy. As you embark
on your university learning journey, you should now have a greater awareness and
capability of becoming a more self-directed and effective user of information.