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Infusing Information Literacy Across the Curriculum

Information literacy information for Harper College faculty.

Information Literacy is Important!

Information literate people result in an informed society that recognizes misinformation, and verifies the source before sharing or passing it on. Everyone seeks information, and the process of identifying information resources to be used correctly in different circumstances, and evaluating different opinions and ideas is essential in life, both in higher education and beyond.

We recognize the need of information literacy to be taught at Harper College, whether in the classroom or in the Library. 

How the Library Can Help

 

The Library can teach your students information literacy a variety of ways. There are countless ways the Library can help; check out possible lessons and activities below.

Written and Oral Communication

  • Prepare a literature review on a particular topic for a specific time frame.

  • Prepare a bibliography or works cited of books, journals, videos, and websites and write annotations. Students should include an explanation of why the work was included.  

  • Students examine texts written by a figure discussed in class, generate questions from the primary sources, and prepare an annotated version of the text which answers or speculates on the parts of the text that are unclear. 

Library Resources and Instruction options:

  • Instruction using databases and/or Library catalog

  • Library instruction about plagiarism/citing, primary vs. secondary sources, peer review materials

  • Resources about effective writing and citing

Quantitative Literacy

  • Examine statistics such as unemployment, domestic abuse, or child abuse: do the statistics show the full picture?

Library Resources and Instruction Options:

  • Using Library databases to find statistics
  • Finding statistics on the web

Critical and Creative Thinking and Problem-Solving

  • Research a controversial topic using a variety of sources.  Discuss how the different types of sources treat the topic.
  • Evaluate a relevant website based on specific criteria, including accuracy, comprehensiveness, authority, easy of use, visual style, and bias.

Library Resources and Instruction Options:

  • Library instruction on evaluating information, fake news/misinformation
  • Annotated bibliography or literature review workshop 

Social Responsibility

  • Research a cause and give a persuasive presentation using facts to convince fellow students to support your cause.  

Library Resources and Instruction Options:

  • Databases: CQ Researcher, Issues & Controversies, Gale Databases, 
  • Newspaper Databases: New York Times, ProQuest, Wall Street Journal  
  • Library instruction challenging students to explore topics relating to diversity, justice, information economics, etc.

Multicultural and Global Literacy

  • Compare and contrast business etiquette in the United States vs a country of a student's choosing
  • Examine the treatment of a controversial issue in the news in two different countries by looking at different sources from each country. Report on the similarities and differences of how the issue is portrayed.

Library Resources and Instruction Options: 

  • Instruction using databases with global/multicultural perspectives
  • Library Instruction session on using Google Advanced search to find articles from a particular region

Maker Literacy

  • Instead of having students turn in a paper or a speech, try having them show you what they've learned by building or creating a hands-on project in a non-traditional modality

Library Resources and Instruction Options:

  • Speak to the Make Shop coordinator to find a project that suits your course needs
  • Attend a Make Shop workshop or tour

Personal and Professional Development

  • What does literature in your field of study look like? Investigate the production and dissemination of information in your field? 

Library Resources and Instruction Options:

  • Career books and industry/trade journals and magazines
  • Career Library Guide
  • Library instruction on researching careers

Reports and Articles About the Value of Having Your Librarians Teach Info. Lit.