Using Weapons of Mass Collaboration to Implode

Information Literacy into the Curriculum

Jacqui Weetman DaCosta & Eleonora Dubicki

Our Plan of Attack

• Evolution of the Information Literacy Progression Standards

• The Standards themselves

• What’s next

What do you think Lampitt could be?

A. Text-speak for switching on the lights?

B. The family from “The Beverly Hillbillies”?

C. A 2007 state law concerning the transfer of credits between two and four year colleges

Education in the U.S.

Grades K - 12

2 Year Community Colleges 4 Year Colleges/Universities

General Education Requirements

• Comprehensive State-Wide Transfer Agreement (NJ Presidents’ Council, September 2008)

• General Education Foundation Course Categories• 4 – Technological Competency or Information

Literacy“Any course that emphasizes common computertechnology skills that helps students to access, process,and present information. “

http://www.state.nj.us/highereducation/PDFs/XferAgreementOct08.pdf

Mass Collaboration• Sept 2008 - Charge from VALE Executive

Committee to Shared Information Literacy Committee to create Progression Standards

• Oct 2008 – Discussions with NJLA/ACRL (CUS) User Education Committee and the Central Jersey Academic Reference Librarians (CJARL)

Task Force

• Task Force formed – December 2008• 8 librarians (4 from two year colleges; 4 from

four year colleges)

Charge of the Task Force

• Aim was to produce:– Standards for students transferring from

two to four year colleges– A document that faculty could embrace– A framework for institutions to customise– A blueprint for faculty/librarian

collaboration

Building the Standards• Association of College & Research Libraries

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education

• SUNY-OswegoInformation Literacy Learning Outcomes for Undergraduates

• Ideas and Best Practices fromOther Institutions

More Collaboration

• With our three professional groups• Within our own institutions:

– Librarians– Faculty “critical friends”

• New Jersey Library Assoc. Conference 2009 – session with approximately 30 attendees

• School librarians

Progression Standards Brochure

Electronic version (.pdf) available on our wiki.

http://njla.pbworks.com/Progression-Standards-for-Information-Literacy

Incorporating Progression• Two Levels

– Introductory/Novice – Intended to be acquired upon completion of 30-32 credits

– Gateway/Developing – Intended to be acquired upon completion of 60-64 credits

• General Skills Discipline Specific Skills

Framework

THE FIVE STANDARS

THE TWO LEVELS

Room to Grow

• K-12 students• First-year remedial / developmental students• Upper-level undergraduate• Graduate students

Standards in Practice• Flexibility: Allows effective integration of

information literacy education into existing courses

• Adaptability: Can be made relevant to virtually any discipline or subject area

• Assessment: Alignment with Progression Standards provides a framework for assessment

Standards in Practice

• Opposing Viewpoints– Ideal for first year students – Develops essential research skills– Provides structure and creativity – Incorporate additional literacies

Standards in Practice • Citation Examination

– Emphasises both Introductory & Gateway skills– Deconstruct citation to locate resources – Recognise value of bibliographies – Incorporates technology

Standards in Practice

• Annotated Bibliography– Standalone element of traditional research papers– Focused on subject specific resources – Evaluation of selected sources – Demonstrate consistent use of a citation style

• More sample assignments are available on our wiki, including:– Research Process Paper– Understanding Primary and Secondary

Sources within the Disciplines– Examining Bias

Standards in Practice

What’s next?Action Plan covering:• Endorsements

– Library and academic professional bodies• Raising awareness with librarians and faculty

– Publications and conferences• Best practices

– Wiki and events

Questions