This document discusses incorporating information literacy into classroom teaching. It defines information literacy as having the ability to recognize when information is needed and locate, evaluate, and effectively use that information. The document recommends that teachers break research assignments into manageable parts, direct students to appropriate library resources, review source evaluation criteria, and encourage students to consult librarians. It suggests collaborating with librarians to design library instruction or research assignments that develop students' critical thinking skills.

1. Reaching Students in an
Information World:
Information Literacy in
the Classroom
Mandi Goodsett,
Reference Librarian
mandi.goodsett@gsw.edu

2. What do your students struggle
with when it comes to research?

3. What is information
literacy?
Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring
individuals to “recognize when information is
needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate,
and use effectively the needed information.”
American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information
Literacy. Final Report.(Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.)

4. What is information
literacy?
An information literate person can
…
1) Recognize when information is
needed
2) Locate information
3) Evaluate information
4) Use the information for a
specific purpose
5) Understand how to use
information ethically

5. Why include information
literacy in your classroom?

6. Why include information
literacy in your classroom?
• Age of information -> information
overload and greater need for information
skills

7. Why include information
literacy in your classroom?
• Age of information -> information
overload and greater need for information
skills
• Students need to know about the
resources in their discipline.

8. Why include information
literacy in your classroom?
• Age of information -> information
overload and greater need for information
skills
• Students need to know about the
resources in their discipline.
• Information literacy supports critical
thinking and professional achievement.

9. Why include information
literacy in your classroom?
Information literate students can deal
with information and conduct research
much more effectively, efficiently, and
confidently.

10. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Activities and classroom procedures

11. Based on the IL standards,
what IL activities do you
already include in your
teaching?
2 minute brainstorm

12. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Break the research assignment into
manageable parts.

13. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Direct students towards a
variety of library resources
including print, electronic, and
multimedia sources.

14. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Direct students towards a
variety of library resources
including print, electronic, and
multimedia sources.
Some source types will be less
familiar to them (i.e. print).

15. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Suggest specific databases, journals, or other
library resources by name to students.

16. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Suggest specific databases, journals, or other
library resources by name to students.
They learn what sources an expert in their field
uses from you.

17. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Review criteria for evaluating
sources.
Emphasize that sources should
be relevant, authoritative,
and accurate.

18. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Discuss what constitutes plagiarism as
well as the consequences.

19. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Encourage students to consult a librarian.

20. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Encourage students to consult a librarian.
Encourage them to …
… visit the library.
… email a librarian at libref@gsw.edu.
… call me at 229-931-2850.

21. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Embed a subject
guide
in GeorgiaVIEW
or request a
course library
guide from your
librarian.

22. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
Collaborate with a librarian to design
library instruction for your class or to
create a research assignment that
employs critical thinking.

23. Incorporating IL in Your
Classroom
http://gsw.edu/Library/Library-Tutorials/library-tutorials

24. Activity
Choose an IL standard and brainstorm a
potential assignment you could use to
strengthen that skill in your students.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Recognize when information is needed
Locate information
Evaluate information
Use the information for a specific purpose
Understand how to use information ethically

25. Based on the IL standards,
what IL activities do you
already include in your
teaching?
Sharing time

26. Questions?
Please see the library guide at
http://libguides.gsw.edu/ILintheclassroom
for more information.
mandi.goodsett@gsw.edu

27. References
• ACRL Information Literacy Task Force. "Information Literacy
Competency Standards for Higher Education." Information
Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.
American Library Association, 18 Jan. 2000. Web. 23 Jan.
2014.
• "Ideas and Strategies for Incorporating Information Literacy
into the Classroom | UCLA Library." Resources for Faculty.
University of California Los Angeles Library, n.d. Web. 23
Jan. 2014.
• "What Is Information Literacy?" Faculty Toolkit for Teaching
Information Literacy. University of Notre Dame Hesburgh
Libraries, 19 June 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014.