Information LiteracyCompetency Standards forHigher Education

ACRL/ALA

Defining Information Literacy

Determine the extent of information needed Access the needed information effectively and

efficiently Evaluate information and its sources critically &

incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base

Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose

Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

Information Literacy and…

Information Technology Becoming “fluency with technology”

Higher Education The classroom and beyond

Pedagogy Being “student-centered”

Use Students becoming information literate

Assessment Assessing students & assisting faculty/librarians

Standard 1

Determine the extent of information needed The information literate student knows…

What information they need Where to get the information What information is most useful How to evaluate the information they have

Standard 2

Access the needed information effectively and efficiently The information literate student knows…

What is the best way to find the information and what information technology to use

How to have a plan and or an outline (and refine it if needed)

How to organize and cite information

Standard 3

Evaluate information and its sources critically & Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base The information literate student knows…

How to create an abstract How to evaluate and judge information How to develop a thesis How to assess new and old information How to explain the information to others

Standard 4

Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose The information literate student knows…

How to order, develop, and present information

Standard 5

Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally The information literate student knows…

How to understand different information policies What are their institution’s policies How to cite the information they are going to use

Information Literate Students

The information literate student, with the assists of faculty & librarians (and guidelines of ACRL standards) can now understand, explore, investigate, and navigate the information full world.

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, ALA, 2000, pages 2-14