How to Teach Information Literacy using the ACRL Information Literacy Framework

Introduction

Information literacy is all about being able to find information, evaluate it, and use it effectively. While many people may think that it’s just about being able to use a search engine or finding things in the library, the reality is that it’s much more complex. With the amount of information that’s available today, it’s essential that people have the skills to be able to navigate it effectively.

Teaching information literacy is more important than ever before, especially with the proliferation of fake news and disinformation online. Fortunately, there are resources available that can help educators teach these skills effectively. One such resource is the ACRL Information Literacy Framework, which provides a framework for understanding and teaching information literacy.

What is the ACRL Information Literacy Framework?

The ACRL Information Literacy Framework is a set of six core concepts that are essential to understanding and teaching information literacy. These concepts are:

1. Authority Is Constructed and Contextual
2. Information Creation as a Process
3. Information Has Value
4. Research as Inquiry
5. Scholarship as Conversation
6. Searching as Strategic Exploration

Each of these concepts is important in its own way, and together they provide a comprehensive framework for understanding and teaching information literacy.

Using the ACRL Information Literacy Framework to Teach Information Literacy

So how can you use the ACRL Information Literacy Framework to teach information literacy? The first step is to understand each of the core concepts and how they relate to information literacy. From there, you can begin to develop lesson plans and activities that help students develop these skills.

For example, if you’re teaching a lesson on evaluating sources, you might focus on the Authority Is Constructed and Contextual concept. You could ask students to evaluate different sources of information and discuss how the authority of the author affects the credibility of the source.

Or, if you’re teaching a lesson on research, you might focus on the Research as Inquiry concept. You could ask students to develop research questions and then search for information using different strategies.

Examples and Case Studies

To help illustrate how the ACRL Information Literacy Framework can be used in practice, here are a few examples and case studies:

1. In a high school English class, students were asked to evaluate a set of sources and choose one to use in a research paper. The teacher used the Authority Is Constructed and Contextual concept to discuss the credibility of the sources and how the authority of the author affected their credibility.

2. In a college research methods class, students were asked to develop a research question and then use different strategies to search for information. The instructor used the Research as Inquiry concept to frame the lesson and help students understand the importance of asking questions and exploring different sources of information.

3. In a community college library skills class, students were introduced to the concept of Information Has Value. The instructor used real-world examples to demonstrate how information can be bought and sold, and the importance of understanding how information is produced and distributed.

Conclusion

Teaching information literacy is essential in today’s world, and the ACRL Information Literacy Framework provides a useful tool for educators at all levels. By understanding each of the core concepts and developing lesson plans and activities that help students develop these skills, educators can help their students become more effective users of information.

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