Using the Internet to
Improve Information Literacy:
The New Role of the
Library/Media Specialist
IASL Conference 2000, Do you read me?
Malmö, Sweden
August 9, 2000
Presented by Dr. Sheila Offman Gersh
City College of New York
sogcc@cunyvm.cuny.edu
http://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?
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–
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–
–
Ricky Lake
CNN
Talk Show Hosts
Newspapers
Magazines
Characteristics of an
Information Literate Person
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/cybert
ours/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/searc
hing_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/Learning
Center/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
http://www.big6.com/compa
rison_chart.gif
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
THANK YOU
• QUESTIONS????