Session 1: Introduction to ILS

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session students should be able to:
• Define information and information literacy
• Explain the core skills or set of abilities in information literacy
• Outline the importance of information literacy
• Identify characteristics of an information literate person
 Information Literacy Overview
Advances in technology have brought about
• Increased information availability
• Diverse information choices for individuals at work, in their
communities as well as in their personal lives
• Challenges such as in authenticity and validity of information as
well as the sources themselves as information comes in
unfiltered formats
• The need for complimentary cluster of skills to enable effective
usage
 What is Information?

• Data commonly used to refer to records or recordings encoded for use in

computer, but is more widely used to refer to statistical observations and
other recordings or collections of evidence.
• Information is (1) a message used by a sender to represent one or more
concepts within a communication process, intended to increase knowledge
in recipients. (2) A message recorded in the text of a document...
• Knowledge is knowing, familiarity gained by experience; person's range of
information; a theoretical or practical understanding of; the sum of what is
known..
 Learning Outcomes
After completing this module, you will have skills to:
• Define Information literacy skills
• Define Information
• Know the characteristics of an information literate person
• Identify the need for information
• Search and retrieve information
• Evaluate information sources
• Use the information ethically
• Disseminate the information (SDI)
 Understanding IL
Information Literacy defined as:
• “…knowing when and why is needed, where to find it, how to
evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner.” (CILIP,
2011) (Chartered Institute of Library and Information
Professionals)
• Shapiro and Hughes (1996) view IL as a new liberal art
extending from knowing how to use computers and access
information to critical reflection on its nature, technical
infrastructure, cultural and even philosophical impact.
 Importance of IL Skills
• ILS engulfs print and electronic, audio and visual forms of
information
• ILS is common to all disciplines, all learning environments and
all levels of education
• ILS enables learners to master content and extend their
investigations to become lifelong independent learners
• ILS equips current learners and enable them to deal effectively
with data smog
 Importance of IL Skills continued
IL enables an individual to:
• identify the need for information
• search and retrieve information
• Evaluate information sources
• Use the information
• Disseminate the information
• Overcome information use challenges emanating from advances in
technology such as data smog alluded to earlier
Need for IL Skills
 An Information Literate Individual
Globally, universities accepted IL competency standards set by
Association of College and Research Libraries in 2000 that an
information literate individual must be 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 ethically and legally to accomplish a specific task.
 The Information Literacy Cycle

If you have an assignment, a presentation,

even a research project to accomplish, Don’t
PANIC!! Do not look beyond ILS
 I WILL NOW TAKE QUESTIONS AND
END THIS
SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO ILS