Tech and Student Learning, Information Literacy

            In the ALA’s publication "Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education," that we read for this week “information literacy” was defined as follows:

Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning. (American Library Association, 2015)

This is not a new concept for us if we have been in library school for very long.  Also, technology, and digital/media literacy are not new to us, either.  The intersection of these concepts is quite logical.  We have an abundance of information being created through an abundance of media sources and distributed through an abundance of technological tools.  What might be new to us, however, and is certainly new to me, is leading children through this abundance of information available to them, and teaching them not only the definition of information literacy, but also how to develop their information literacy skills.  Reading the "Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education" prepares us, again, at least me, for what I need to teach my students before they get out of high school (not just if the are going to college).

            One thing about information literacy that I will share with my students, and that I learned during this week’s assigned materials, was from the podcast Fake News & Media Literacy.  In the podcast Gungor and McHargue outlined “how you do the work of testing news claims” in six steps.  Basically, if all of the following are not present, you could seriously be dealing with fake news.

1.     Credible news media or information sources will name the author and contributors of the article or post.

2.     Credible news media or information sources will tell from where the information was gathered. (Is that person or organization reputable?)

3.     Credible news media or information sources will give the date that the information became available.

4.     Credible news media or information sources will cite specific sources and references by name (except in extremely rare cases of when they are protecting their source for safety reasons).

5.     Credible news media or information sources will be well written with no typos, grammar or punctuation mistakes, and no words in all capitol letters.

6.     Credible news media or information sources will not attempt to make you angry or afraid with sensationalized and inflammatory words or comments. If they do, check the facts elsewhere.

(Gungor & McHargue, 2017)

            As far as my own “information diet” goes, I am personally a “conscious consumer” of information, as Clay Johnson suggested we all should be in his discussion on The Liturgists podcast (Gungor & McHargue, 2017).  I limit what I “eat.” I do watch the evening news sometimes, but I watch with my IPad as a source and fact checker.  Also, I read various publications about things that are important to me, like trap, neuter and release impact studies for feral cats.  Further, like what was suggested in the podcast, as part of my healthy information diet, I do read and keep up with my local news.             
           Professionally, I believe the “information diet” of a school librarian should look like that of a curator, a researcher, and a local politician.  I think we should look at what our students look at to help them make since of what they are seeing, and perhaps guide them in more positive, “healthy” directions.  I think as librarians we should pay close attention to research and information from our credible sources like the ALA.  Finally, I think we should pay very close attention to information released by our local “powers that be” when it comes to policies and procedures about our kids, our education system, and libraries as a whole.

           References

"Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education", American Library

Association, February 9, 2015.

http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework (Accessed September 8, 2018)

Document ID: b910a6c4-6c8a-0d44-7dbc-a5dcbd509e3f

Gungor, Michael, and Michael McHargue. “Fake News & Media Literacy.” The

Liturgists, 7 Mar. 2017, www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/3/7/fake-news-media-literacy.