Truth Be Told

Project Information Literacy studied more than 8,000 students from 25 colleges and universities. Students were asked how they evaluate information and use it once they have found it, and what difficulties they encounter with research. The findings are reported in Truth Be Told: How College Students Evaluate and Use Information in the Digital Age.

• 84% reported having trouble just getting started with research assignments,
• 66% had problems defining a topic,
• Half of the students said they used the same research techniques whatever the topic,
• Only 11% reported asking the librarian for guidance

Librarian Barbara Fister comments on the report in Library Journal: "We need to think hard about what role inquiry plays in the undergraduate curriculum and how the library supports meaningful undergraduate research. Will values embedded in the process of discovering meaning while doing assignments transfer to life after college?"


Here's the preview video.

Information Literacy Classes Online

As we continue to move through the semester the time for the in library Information Literacy Classes has come to a close. BUT DON’T WORRY, all three Information Literacy Classes are offered online! This means that you can find Research 1: Introduction and Orientation to the Richland Library, Research 2: Electronic Research – Sources and Strategies, and Research 3: How to Use MLA Format- Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources classes at http://libguides.richlandcollege.edu/libraryclasses. The online Information Literacy Classes can also be found under the link “Library Classes” on our homepage. The completion of these three classes will lead to the Information Literacy Certificate, equipping you with the tools to be an effective researcher.

National Information Literacy Awareness Month

On October 1, President Obama declared October as Information Literacy Awareness Month with these opening words:

"Every day, we are inundated with vast amounts of information. A 24-hour news cycle and thousands of global television and radio networks, coupled with an immense array of online resources, have challenged our long-held perceptions of information management. Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation. This new type of literacy also requires competency with communication technologies, including computers and mobile devices that can help in our day-to-day decision making. National Information Literacy Awareness Month highlights the need for all Americans to be adept in the skills necessary to effectively navigate the Information Age."

The text of the entire proclamation can be found at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/2009literacy_prc_rel.pdf

Read more about information literacy
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/issues/infolit/overview/intro/index.cfm

View Project Information Literacy videos on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/ProjInfoLit

What Students Think

Much has been made of the "knowledge shortcomings" of the general population. One only needs to think about some of the shocking (and funny) interviews that Jay Leno does on the segment he calls Jaywalking.

E.D. Hirsch caused quite a storm when he proposed that people can't learn unless they have a certain minimum amount of factual knowledge, which he called cultural literacy.

Did you know that there is also something called information literacy? It too has been the subject of much discussion.

In August 2008, 225 Richland high school juniors took a needs assessment developed by the Network of Illinois Learning Resources in Community Colleges.

The assessment was an opportunity for librarians to take a look at the understandings and misunderstandings of our own student population.

The assessment showed that there is much that students do not understand.

This little slideshow -- What Students Think -- demonstrate some of those gaps in understanding.

These may not be quite as shocking as Jay Leno's discoveries, but they definitely play a role in keeping students from producing the quality work we know they are capable of.

126 Students Earn Library's Information Literacy Certificate

Librarians began teaching the Spring 2009 Library Information Literacy Classes on January 29. The formal series of three 80 minute face-to-face classes ended on April 4.

To date, 349 students have been participating in the classes and/or completing the online requirements. A total of 126 of those students have earned the Library's Information Literacy Certificate for attending all three library classes.

Even though the classes have ended, students may still earn credit for each of the library classes by completing a combination of online and printed exercises. These exercises are available on the web at http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/library/infolit.php. Students should look in the "Online Learning" column on the right hand side of the page.

Research One - Introduction to the Richland Library includes a photo tour and an online quiz.

Research Two - Electronic Research Sources and Strategies requires students to complete a written exercise.

Research Three - MLA Format--Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources requires students to complete an online quiz and create a works cited list using NoodleTools.

Students who complete the program are better prepared to conduct library research needed for a speech, an essay, or a research paper.

Students Earn the Library Information Literacy Certificate

Richland Library has awarded Library Information Literacy Certificates to 138 students for the Fall 2008 semester. This number represents 30% of the 455 students who have been participating in the program and attending the library classes.