5 Components of Information Literacy

Summary

Information literacy is a crucial skill set that enables individuals to effectively locate, evaluate, and utilize information. It encompasses five key components: identifying information needs, finding information efficiently, critically evaluating sources, applying information for specific purposes, and acknowledging its sources ethically. This skill is vital for success in both academic and real-life scenarios, promoting informed decision-making and responsible use of information.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Information literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively.
• 📚 It consists of five components crucial for success in academic and real-life settings.
• 🎯 The first component involves identifying the nature and extent of the required information, such as differentiating between primary and secondary sources.
• 🔎 The second component is about finding information efficiently using Boolean terms, call numbers, and selecting the best keywords.
• 📊 The third component emphasizes the critical evaluation of information and its sources, including analyzing arguments and reviewing multiple viewpoints.
• 📝 The fourth component is applying information effectively for specific purposes, like paraphrasing experts or integrating quotations into a paper.
• 📜 The final component is acknowledging the sources of information, understanding ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues.
• 📖 In academia, this involves creating citations, understanding plagiarism, and using copyright guidelines.
• 🌐 Outside of academia, it includes giving credit to reposted images, recognizing free speech limits, and legally downloading music.
• 🤔 Information literacy helps in devising search strategies, accessing government websites, and researching claims in political ads.
• 💡 It is essential for developing market surveys, referencing experts, and communicating findings to investors.

Q & A

What is the definition of 'information literacy' as mentioned in the script?

Information literacy is a set of skills that enables individuals to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

How many components is information literacy divided into according to the script?

Information literacy is divided into five separate components.

What does the first component of information literacy involve?

The first component involves identifying the nature and extent of the information needed, which includes writing a thesis statement, creating a research plan, and differentiating between primary and secondary sources.

Can you provide an example of how the 'identify' component applies in the real world?

In the real world, the 'identify' component can involve devising a search strategy for buying a new home, identifying the difference between a court decision and an article about it, and deciding to search for the most current information on a medical issue.

What does the second component of information literacy focus on?

The second component focuses on finding the needed information effectively and efficiently, which includes using Boolean terms in online searches, locating books by call number, and choosing the best keywords for searches.

How does the ability to evaluate information critically apply in an academic setting?

In an academic setting, this ability involves reviewing multiple points of view, exploring different sources of information, and analyzing the structure and logic of arguments made in lectures and speeches.

What is an example of the third component in the real world?

In the real world, the third component can involve researching the claims made in political ads, scrutinizing a Wikipedia article for accuracy, and checking a website for regular updates and current information.

What does the fourth component of information literacy entail?

The fourth component is about applying information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose, such as paraphrasing an expert in a speech, integrating a quotation into a research paper, or incorporating an image into a presentation.

How can the fourth component be applied outside of an educational environment?

Outside of an educational environment, this component can be applied by developing a market survey based on identified gaps in research, referencing experts during discussions, and communicating findings of a patent search to potential investors.

What is the final component of information literacy and why is it important?

The final component is acknowledging the sources of information used, which is important because it involves understanding ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues surrounding information, such as plagiarism, copyright, and fair use guidelines.

How does understanding the ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues of information apply in everyday life?

In everyday life, this understanding can be applied by giving attribution to reposted images, recognizing the limits of free speech and censorship, and knowing how to legally download purchased music.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Information Literacy

This paragraph introduces the concept of information literacy as a crucial set of skills enabling individuals to locate, evaluate, and effectively use information. It is broken down into five components: identifying information needs, finding information efficiently, critically evaluating sources, applying information to achieve goals, and acknowledging information sources ethically. The paragraph provides examples of how these skills apply to both academic and real-world scenarios, emphasizing their importance for success in college, university, and life.

Keywords

💡Information Literacy

Information literacy is the ability to effectively locate, evaluate, and use information when needed. It is central to the video's theme as it outlines the skills necessary for success in both academic and real-life scenarios. The script discusses how information literacy can be broken down into five components, each crucial for understanding and applying knowledge effectively.

💡Identify

In the context of the video, 'identify' refers to recognizing the type and extent of information required for a task. It is the first step in the process of information literacy, as it sets the foundation for further research and understanding. Examples from the script include writing a thesis statement and differentiating between primary and secondary sources of information.

💡Boolean Terms

Boolean terms such as AND, OR, and NOT are used in academic research to refine search queries effectively. They are integral to the 'find' component of information literacy, allowing individuals to narrow down or expand their search results to find the most relevant information, as illustrated by the script's mention of using these terms when searching online.

💡Evaluate

Evaluating information involves critically assessing the credibility and reliability of sources. This component of information literacy is essential for forming well-informed opinions and understanding complex topics. The script provides examples such as reviewing multiple viewpoints and analyzing the structure and logic of arguments.

💡Apply

Applying information effectively means using the gathered knowledge to achieve a specific purpose. In the video, this concept is related to the ability to paraphrase expert opinions, integrate quotations into research papers, or develop market surveys based on identified gaps. It demonstrates the practical use of information literacy in various contexts.

💡Acknowledge

To 'acknowledge' in the script refers to recognizing and giving credit to the sources of information used. This is the final component of information literacy and involves understanding ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues related to information use. Examples include creating citations, understanding plagiarism, and adhering to copyright guidelines.

💡Primary Sources

Primary sources are original materials or evidence from the time period involved, often created by a witness or participant. In the context of the video, primary sources are contrasted with secondary sources, which are based on primary sources but provide analysis or interpretation. The ability to differentiate between these is part of the 'identify' component of information literacy.

💡Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are works that are based on primary sources but provide analysis, interpretation, or evaluation of the original material. The script mentions secondary sources as books about research findings, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the difference between direct evidence and subsequent analysis in the information literacy process.

💡Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work without proper attribution and presenting it as one's own. The video discusses the importance of understanding what constitutes plagiarism as part of the 'acknowledge' component of information literacy, highlighting the ethical implications of information use.

💡Copyright

Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution. The script touches on the importance of understanding copyright laws as part of being information literate, especially in the context of using and sharing information ethically and legally.

💡Creative Commons

Creative Commons is a set of licenses that allow creators to share their work while still retaining copyright, giving others the ability to use the work under certain conditions. The video mentions Creative Commons as part of the 'acknowledge' component, emphasizing the importance of understanding different licensing models for ethical information use.

Highlights

Information literacy is a set of skills that enables the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively.

Information literacy can be divided into five separate components.

The first component is identifying the nature and extent of the information needed.

In academia, this involves writing a thesis statement and differentiating between primary and secondary sources.

In the real world, it includes devising a search strategy for buying a home and finding current medical information.

The second component is finding the needed information effectively and efficiently.

This includes using Boolean terms when searching online and locating books by call number.

Outside of school, it involves searching public archives and accessing government websites for statistics.

The third component is critically evaluating the information and its sources.

In an academic context, this means reviewing multiple viewpoints and analyzing the structure of arguments.

In the real world, it includes scrutinizing political ads and checking the accuracy of Wikipedia articles.

The fourth component is applying the information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

In education, this could involve paraphrasing experts or integrating quotations into a research paper.

Outside of education, it could involve developing a market survey or communicating patent findings to investors.

The final component is acknowledging the sources of information used.

This requires understanding ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues surrounding information.

In college, this includes creating citations, understanding plagiarism, and utilizing copyright guidelines.

Outside of college, it involves giving attribution to reposted images and recognizing free speech protections.

An information literate person can identify, find, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information.

Transcripts

Most of us are familiar with the term "literacy".

And some of you may have heard of "information literacy",

but are not exactly sure what information literacy is.

It turns out, information literacy is a distinct set of skills that gives us the

ability to locate,

evaluate, and use effectively the needed information."

Information literacy can be divided into five separate components.

Let's take a look at how each of these components applies to success in college

or university

and in real life. The first component is about identifying the nature and extent

of the information you need. Academic examples include:

writing a thesis statement, creating a timeline and plan to complete a

research paper,

and differentiating between primary sources of information like findings

from research

and secondary sources of information like a book about the results.

n the real world, the identify component shows itself as

devising a search strategy to find information on buying a new home,

dentifying the difference between a published court decision

and an article about that decision, and deciding to search for the most current

information about a medical issue so you're well-informed.

The second component means you can find

the needed information effectively and efficiently.

in academia and this means you can

use Boolean terms AND, OR, and NOT when searching online,

locate a book on the library shelves by its call number,

and choose the best keywords and phrases when searching online

or in library databases. Outside of school,

you are able to search the public archives for information on local

history,

request genealogical records through interlibrary loan,

and access a government website to find out your local crime statistics.

The ability to evaluate the information you find

and its sources critically is the next component. Academic examples include:

reviewing multiple points of view to construct your own opinion,

exploring different sources of information like the books,

databases, periodicals, and the internet to understand a topic,

and the ability to analyze the structure and logic of arguments made in lectures

and speeches.

In the real world, you can research the claims made in political ads on

television,

scrutinize a Wikipedia article for accuracy,

and check a website to make sure it is update regularly

and has current information. The fourth component is about applying that information

effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.

In an educational environment, you can paraphrase an expert to support a

position in a persuasive speech,

ntegrate a direct quotation from an article

into a research paper, and download an image from a database

and then incorporate it into a visual presentation.

Away from the educational environment, you are able to develop a market survey

based on

gaps you identify by reviewing studies, reference experts to support a point

during a discussion,

and communicate the findings of a patent search to potential investors.

The final component of information literacy

is to acknowledge the sources of information you use.

To do this well, you must understand the ethical, legal, and socio-economic issues

surrounding information.

In the college or university, you can show your understanding by

creating a works cited, bibliography, or reference list,

understanding what constitutes plagiarism

and utilizing copyright, Creative Commons, public domain, and Fair Use guidelines.

Outside of the college or university, you will give attribution,

or credit, to a reposted image on your website,

recognize the limits and protections of free speech and censorship,

and know how to download legally purchased music.

In summary, the information literate person can

identify, find, evaluate, apply,

and acknowledge information.