Home \ VCUQatar Libraries \ Research and Instruction \ Information Literacy (IL) Program
Information Literacy (IL) Program
Mission Statement
To provide the VCUQatar community with the skills, capabilities and experience needed to identify, find, evaluate and use information in an effective and socially responsible manner, to inspire creativity, succeed academically, and to support lifelong learning.
Definition of Information Literacy
Information literacy (IL) can be defined as a set of abilities requiring individuals to ‘recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information’ (American Library Association, 1989).
Rationale
‘Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant’ Mitchell Kapor
Our IL program promotes critical thinking and equips individuals for lifelong learning. IL is more than just knowing how to find books and journal articles in the library or on the Internet, or being technology literate. It is about the ability to evaluate the information found, and being aware of the cultural, economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information. The development of IL knowledge and skills is critical to research and the continuing creation of knowledge.
Information Literacy Across the Curriculum Program Outline (January 29th DRAFT)
The library is committed to providing the information literacy/fluency instructional program in collaboration with departments and faculty across campus to meet the VCU University College core curriculum. See VCU core curriculum details at: http://www.pubapps.vcu.edu/BULLETINS/print_version.aspx?iid=30898
This is a preliminary draft plan. It will continue to be refined over the next year or so as departments and liaisons have more time to discuss and evaluate the best ways to encourage and instill information literacy and research skills for students at VCUQatar.
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Level/Audience |
Learning Outcomes |
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ORIENTATION |
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Freshman Orientation |
Students will be able to:
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Faculty/Staff Orientation
(1 hour) |
Faculty/Staff will be able to:
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University 101
(1 to 2 hours) 3 sections Fall |
Students will be introduced to:
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LOWER DIVISION |
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Univ 111
(2 hours) 7 sections Fall 1 section Spring & Summer |
Students will be able to:
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Univ 112
(3 Hours) 7 sections Spring 1 section summer and Fall |
Students will be able to:
|
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Foundation
(1 hour session in one section of either Space, Time, Drawing or Surface, each semester) |
Students will be able to:
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English 200
(1 hour) 4 sections |
Students will be able to:
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|
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UPPER DIVISION AND MAJOR COURSES (A specific course or courses will be identified by the department and the liaison in which the upper division education may best occur) |
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Major courses
(2+ hours) |
Students will be able to:
|
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Senior Seminar (Capstone)
(1+ hour) |
Students will be able to:
|
|
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MFA |
|
Embedded in DESI 520 and DESI 690 |
Students will be able to:
|
Learning outcomes are abbreviated from Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education see: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm
The hours in parentheses represent the approximate number of hours a library faculty member will devote to instruction within each course/level mentioned.
Information Literacy (IL) Resources
Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. These standards provide a framework for developing and assessing information literacy initiatives. Each standard has performance indicators and desired outcomes.
ACRL Information Literacy Website. Links to resources to help understand and apply the competency standards (see above).
ACRL Instruction Section's Teaching Methods Committee - The First-Year Experience and Academic Libraries: A Select, Annotated Bibliography. A list of literature on the first-year student’s experience with information literacy instruction.
InfoLit Global – Information Literacy Resources Directory. A database of information literacy materials from around the world created by the Information Literacy Section of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) for UNESCO.
Australia and New Zealand Literacy Framework
ALA Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning
SCONUL Seven Pillars of InformationLiteracy: Core Model for Higher Education. Developed by the Society of College, National and University Libraries in the UK
