The i-Spy framework provides a model for developing students' i-skills (information skills) at the University of Hertfordshire. The framework includes learning outcomes, criteria for good practice, quality assurance procedures, and online tutorials. The goal is to help students connect with information, interact with information, and make use of information using a variety of technologies.

1. i-Spy i-Skills Framework
The University of Hertfordshire i-Spy Team:
Susan Heale, Helen Singer, and Angela Dimond
Information Management Associates:
David Streatfield, Sharon Markless

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Why i-Spy?
'People use the internet and new technologies every day – for
finding information, communicating, and seeking
entertainment, goods and services. Learners are bringing
new expectations of the power of technology into higher
education. … Our goal is to help the sector use new
technology as effectively as they can, so that it becomes a
‘normal’ or embedded part of their activities.’
(HEFCE Strategy for e-Learning 2005)

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i-Spy i-skills
Skills to support:
–connecting,
–interacting and
–making use
of information using a wide range of
information technologies

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i-skills in teaching and learning
The digital environment presents new
challenges for students:
• Social networking eg MySpace, and new
web technologies eg blogs, wikis, RSS …
• Non-linear information and learning in ‘bite-
sized chunks’
• Blended learning (UH is a CETL)

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What is i-Spy?
1. A new framework for UH to support staff to deliver
quality assured i-skills based on a model to reflect
modern student learning styles
2. Associated Aims and Learning Outcomes based
on recognised standards
3. Checklist of criteria for good practice to inform
design of i-skills materials
4. Quality assurance and enhancement procedures
5. A set of tutorials developed within the i-Spy
framework

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How can i-Spy help?
• i-Spy delivers a range of online tutorials that can
be used:
i. by staff with confidence in their teaching to meet i-skills
aims and learning outcomes
ii. by students for self-help
• To support skills development of:
– critical evaluation, identification of authoritative and
trustworthy sources, search and navigation, handling
large quantities of potential sources, citing and
referencing, and more …

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Quality assurance and enhancement
The i-Spy QA&E strategy incorporates:
• Adherence to a recognised set of aims and
learning outcomes
• Conformance to a checklist of good practice
• Standardisation of ‘plain language’
terminology
• Process of peer review
• User evaluation

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i-Spy Framework : full diagram
problem
definition reviewing
identifying
sources
orientatio
n
Focussing (including
keywords, formulating
questions
)
networkin
g
picture
building
browsing
exploring
l
locating
systematic searching
questioning and
challenging filtering
knowing
enough
thinking
critically
refining and
interpreting
synthesising
and
analysing
transforming
constructing new
knowledge, concepts
evaluating
andverifying
imposingstructure
restructuring
transforming
taking
ownership of the
learning
communicating
applyin
g
citing and
referencing
Evaluation : Monitoring progress Reflecting … on the experience and the outcome
Connecting
with
Information
Interacting
with
Information
Making use
of
Information

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i-Spy Model
Evaluation : Monitoring progress Reflecting … on the experience and the outcome
Orientation
Locating
Focussing
(including keywords, formulating questions)
Exploring
Connecting with Information
Thinking critically
Evaluating and verifying
Transforming
Constructing new knowledge, concepts
Interacting with Information
Transforming
Applying
Communicating
Citing and referencing
Making Use of Information

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i-Spy: connect, interact, make use
Connect …
• what information you need
• where you might find the information
• how you might go about searching for
• the information
• how to use different resources
Interact …
• question, filter, synthesise and analyse
information
• evaluate the quality and authority of
information
• work with information until fit for purpose
• create new understanding and knowledge
Make use …
• Use appropriate media to work with information
• Communicate what you have learned
• Cite and reference appropriately
• Apply information to help you solve problems, make decisions, and think
critically

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i-Spy benefits for staff
• Support for staff to deliver high quality i-skills
in their teaching
• Help staff to meet graduate skills targets
• Time saving through re-use
• Easy StudyNet (MLE) access to a range of
ready made independent learning i-skills
tutorials
• A framework to share i-skills materials
across the University

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Scope for use
• Project work, research skills, evidence
based practice
• Personal Development Planning
• Graduate skills
• Programme review and validation
• Blended Learning
• Student centred and independent learning

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Tutorial: Systematic searching