Week 1, August 29, Information Literacy past and present

It was interesting reading in chapter 1 of our text about the history of (ILI) information literacy instruction.  There has been a number ways to define what an information literate person is but they all center around the ability to use resources to solve problems.  Critical thinking and evaluation have become more important as information choices expand.  Chapter 2 discusses how ILI requires librarians to become teachers.  There are many professional organizations interested in promoting best practices in ILI such as the ALA, ACRL, IFLA and many others.                                                

In class we discussed how user instruction dates back to Dewey.  Instruction can be synchronous such as face-to-face instruction, or asynchronous like workbooks.  In groups, we discussed the traits of an information literate person such as lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and problem solvers.   Someone who knows how to find and evaluate resources, use information effectively and properly (legally), and who become a creator or producer of new information.  I didn’t know a lot of the definitions that changed over the years with the way information changed.  I work with law students every day on research strategies and resources in many formats.  There is no start and finish to ILI since information keeps changing.