From Petals to Puzzles - Solve the Information Literacy Puzzle
Developmental Education Symposium - August 22, 2006

What is Information Literacy?

Research is like a Puzzle

How can I create Information Literacy assignments for my classes?

What Resources are available to promote Information Literacy?

Additional Resources

*Activity - Seeing through your students eyes- Is an assignment clear & effective?

Activity: How many petals on a rose?
Throw out dice and tell us "How many petals are on a rose?"
If you get the right answer do not tell us how you reached the answer, wait for others to figure out the answer .
Some people will never figure out the answer. Do not tell them, let them find out for themselves.

Questions to ask when doing this activity?

Was this question "Greek" to you?
Were you frustrated by not being able to understand how to get the answer?

As faculty we are immersed in our field and totally understand our assignments.
Sometimes our students find research assignments are "Greek" to them. They are frustrated by the assignment and do not understand what they need to do or understand why they are doing it.

Creating Effective Information Literacy Assignments will help you see a research assignment through the students eyes. It will provide you with guidelines to produce great assignments that will help students become more information literate and aid them as they pursue life long learning.

Information Literacy - A Lifelong Learning Skill

 What is Information Literacy? Top

Information literacy is 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." ... Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. (American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report.(Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.)

 Definition from the Association of College and Research Libraries - An information literate individual is able to:

• 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. Access and use information ethically and legally

Information Literacy Definitions & Standards: 

• *Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
• Information Literacy Competencies - Weber State University
• Nine Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning

 Why is Information Literacy important ?

• Middle States Accreditation Requirement - Profile of an Information Literate Student ( handout)
• Career Requirement - Scans 2000
• Lifelong Learning Requirement
• Learning First - Student as active participant

Research is like a Puzzle - Using all the different information pieces to complete your research   Top 
What are these pieces?
How do they fit together?

Activity & Discussion
Help your students incorporate all the information pieces to complete their research puzzle.

1) Need: What do I need to find out? Problem Analysis	4) Use: How will I apply what I find to complete the assignment? Communication of Results
2) Find: Where can I find the information? How can I find the information? Investigation of Appropriate Resources	5 ) Integrity: How will I give credit where credit is due? Ethical Use of Information
	3) Evaluate: How will I know this is quality material? How will I decide which source to use?

  Pieces of the Information Puzzle from the University of Dayton

How can I create Information Literacy assignments for my classes? Top

Creating Effective Assignments:
Handout: Creating Effective Research Assignments

Keys to Designing Effective Assignments from North Harris College Library
Creating Effective Research Assignments from Pace University Library
Tips for Creating Effective Research Assignments from Northwestern Michigan College

Handout: Assignment Checklist from "Creating a Library Assignment Workshop for University Faculty" by Pixey Anne Mosley. Journal of Academic Librarianship January 1998 pp.35-37

Types of Assignments & Alternative Assignments:
Handout: Ideas for Library/Research Assignments
Types of Assignments from "Creating a Library Assignment Workshop for University Faculty" by Pixey Anne Mosley. Journal of Academic Librarianship January 1998 pp.35-37

Sample Assignments: 
Sample Library Assignments from Begley Library

What resources are available to promote Information Literacy? Top

Many of the Information Resources are available from the CCBC Library Home page http://www.ccbcmd.edu/libraries/index.html
These resources include:

Librarians - Individual consultation with librarians who will help you design your research project
Books - from our campuses or inter library loan from elsewhere
Articles from magazine, journals, newspapers, and research database
Access to Electronic Journals, Magazines, and Newspapers
Alerts - for journal titles or subject searches
Permanent Links of journal articles for your faculty page or Web CT page
Class Assignment Web page

Have your students use a research log to keep track of their research. The process of finding and evaluating information is just as important as the product.

Handout: Research Log

Any Questions call or email: Sharon Casey-Dundalk 410-285-9644 scasey@ccbcmd.edu Michele Meisart-Essex 410-780-6875 mmeisart@ccbcmd.edu Gretchen Wright-Catonsville 410-455-6971 gwright@ccbcmd.edu

 

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Additional Web Resources: Top

More web sites on Information Literacy Programs & Faculty Information:

• Information Literacy in a Nutshell: Basic Information for Administrators and Faculty
• Information Literacy Faculty Workshop Materials

 Creating Effective Information Literacy Assignments: 

• Creating Effective Library Assignments from the University of Maryland
• Promoting Information Literacy through Class Assignments from Meriam Library
• Common Pitfalls and Tips for Effective Research Assignments from San Diego State University
• Tutorial for Developing and Evaluating Assignments from the University of Maryland. Includes: 
• Section 1:  What is the Writing and Information Literacy Assessment Project?
• Section 2:  Background on Information Literacy, Writing, and Critical Thinking *Designing Assignments that Contain Writing "
• Section 3:  Promoting Effective Research and Writing in your Discipline
• Section 4:  Designing Assignments that Contain Writing and Research
• Best Practices for Creating Effective Library Assignments from CSULB Library with pitfall to avoid
• Writing Learning Outcomes from Kansas State University

Types of Assignments & Alternative Assignments: 

• Handout Alternative Assignments & Resource Based Learning
• Term Paper Alternatives from UC Berkeley Library

 Chart of ideas for assessing your assignment

Selected List of Colleges Having Information Literacy Programs

• National Forum on Information Literacy-Information Literacy: The Key Web Site
• Selected Case Studies Using the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
• Best Practices from the University of South Australia
• UMass Information Literacy Project is a five-campus library effort to improve your research and writing skills. This site will help you: choose a topic, refine a topic, conduct a search strategy, evaluate and cite sources.

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