The UAH Information Literacy Program takes an active, collaborative approach to teaching information literacy skills. It embeds these skills throughout courses and instructional sessions by designing each around the subject matter and information needs of the class. Students participate in hands-on assignments and collaborative activities to develop critical skills for lifelong learning. The program works closely with faculty to align information literacy goals with class objectives. Students leave sessions with a solid start on their research projects and an understanding of how to effectively find and use information.

1. UAH Information Literacy
Program
Our active, collaborative approach
Seth M. Porter: Instructional & Reference Librarian

2. What is Information Literacy?
O Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find,
retrieve, analyze, and use information.
O But it is more than that.
O This is the information age!
O But this has its drawbacks.
O The term is information overload
O Students cannot learn everything they need to know in a few years.
O Information is everywhere, but how do they evaluate it
O Information literacy equips them with the critical skills
necessary to become independent lifelong learners

3. What is Information Literacy?
O “Too often we assume that as students write
research papers and read textbooks they
are gaining sufficient IL skills. This is not so.
IL skills may be introduced but what is
needed is a parallel curriculum in IL forming
a strong foundation of a college education.”
–(www.acrl.org)
O Basically information literacy is setting up
the skills to be a life-long, engaged learner!

5. How we handle Information
Literacy
O For students to learn information literacy it must be embedded.
O every class, instructional session, and work shop will be designed
around the subject at hand and built specifically for the information
needs of the particular class and student
O We focus on student centered learning and sticking to complete
instructional design methods and active, collaborative learning
theories. Students will have active hands on assignments as well as
collaborative practice
O in addition to theory to help ground the information literacy practices in
intellectual pursuits as well as practical knowledge.
O Every class and session will be built around Learning Outcomes which
are aligned with the students, teachers and information literacy goals.

6. How we handle Information
Literacy
O This combination will succeed in supporting our mission of
reinforcing the goals of the great UAH academic purview, as
well as integrating lifelong learning into the curriculum.
O This is more than just a lecture of pointing out different
resources. Each session the students will leave with
something substantial. This includes a solid start on their
research project and an understanding of how to find
information, analysis information and synthesize this for
their research needs.
O Active, informed learning of information literacy produces
many positive outcomes for students and faculty.

7. How we handle Information
Literacy
O We schedule meetings with the subject faculty to analyze
their syllabus, assignments and student learning goals
O Each workshop is also designed with different learning
styles in mind
O We design each workshop with universal design methods
O Each workshop is emailed, and tweeted out for
asynchronous learners

8. Informed Learning
O The students will learn with hands on
research that reinforces blooms higher level
learning attributes.
O They will also leave with part of their
research finished!!
O They love this!

9. Instruction Services
O Information literacy and research workshops
O Embed librarians in research projects,
classes and distance education
O Subject specific online tutorials
O Train faculty in information literacy concepts
and activities
O Research support
O Research Consultation (One on One
Instruction)

10. Research Consultation

11. Research Consultation

12. Key Points
O Information Literacy is being a life-long
learner
O UAH Information Literacy Program is active,
collaborative with the students learning
needs driving our design
O UAH students will leave every session with
needed research finished
O We have many access points for different
learners

13. Contact Information
• Seth Porter: Information Literacy Librarian
• 256.824.6130
• smp0024@uah.edu