ISCI 761: Information Literacy (Week 3)

 


Photo sourced from https://ahealthyiowa.org/programs/digital-literacy/

    As today's society becomes more dependent on technology, the development and enhancement of digital literacy skills are more vital than ever. As educators and school librarians, our goals are to not only prepare students for success within the realm of their educational journey but life outside of school as well. The importance of aiding students with the development of these skills is evident in the Framework for 21st Learning, which claims that to be successful in a global economy and media-rich environment, students need to begin developing the skills of critical thinking, responsibility, and accountability, along with familiarity with financial, environmental, and information literacies (Framework,2019). This growth process continues throughout each student's educational career, especially as they pursue higher education, with which we can use the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education to further the development of these skills. This framework increases the depth and breadth of information literacy skills by considering authority, the inquiry of research, and the creation and value of information (Framework, 2015).  
    Through the development of these skills, it is clear to see where the concepts of information literacy, technology, and digital media intersect. Technology is all around us, and new technological innovations and advancements are thought of or introduced every day. Being able to use technology is essential, but you must also know how to use it effectively. With the abundance of information online, knowing how to navigate the surplus, carefully make selections for media consumption, and determine credibility, accuracy, and bias is crucial. Utilizing the frameworks for career readiness skills and information literacy, we can help students develop these skills within the context of content learning, and better prepare them for the roles they will fulfill as citizens of a digitally driven society.  
 

           
   Photo sourced from https://www.roninmarketing.co.uk/a-balanced-media-diet/ 
    
    Before listening to Michael Gungor’s podcast about fake news and media literacy, I had not given my information diet much thought in quite some time. In complete honesty, I do not pay much attention to the news. Most of my information intake about the world comes from social media outlets or word of mouth. As of late, most of the content covered by the news is negative or very heavily swayed by politics. At the start of my young adult life, I was under the impression that since I had no control over what was happening in the world, I needn't cause myself stress concerning these events and began withdrawing myself from news outlets altogether. 
     Now, as I am in the process of attaining a degree in Information Science, I am beginning to see the error of my ways and the importance of revamping my media diet. As a current teacher and a future school librarian, many local and global events can have an impact on myself, my students, and my profession. To be well equipped to effectively do my job, I also need to be well informed by regularly consuming a balanced diet of information pertinent to the many areas of my field. While the library is known to be a substantial resource of knowledge, I believe the librarian should also reflect this wealth of knowledge so that they can help users appropriately. One important aspect of balancing out my information diet is becoming aware of bias in the media and ensuring that I do not limit my intake to only sources that align with my personal beliefs, as my role as a librarian will push me to assist a diverse population.  
    One of my biggest takeaways from The Liturgist podcast was not to neglect local news, as these events and issues concern you more directly and can be fact-checked with your own feet (Gungor, 2017). As a school librarian, community outreach and involvement are important aspects of fostering a love of reading and digital literacy skills with my students and their families. Becoming more invested in local news and media will help me establish these connections throughout the community. My first steps in this process must be to analyze and refine my personal information diet and media literacy skills so that I am more equipped to help others. 


References: 

Framework for 21st Century Learning. Battelle for Kids. (2019). Retrieved September 7, 2022, from http://static.battelleforkids.org/documents/p21/P21_Framework_Brief.pdf 

Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. Association of College & Research Libraries. (2015, February 9). Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework 

Gungor, M. (Host). (2017, March 7). Fake news & media literacy [Audio podcast episode]. In The Liturgists. Anchor. https://anchor.fm/the-liturgists-podcast/episodes/Fake-News--Media-Literacy-eutfrm 







Comments

  1. AnonymousSeptember 10, 2022 at 8:29 AM

    As an adult I can see and understand how important the Framework skills and outcomes are vital to success in our world. As a librarian I know that teaching students these skills is easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t help aid teachers in incorporating these life skills into our lessons. With lessons that address fake news, like in the podcast, we can guide students in the right direction with their learning and research.

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  2. Ella RollingsSeptember 11, 2022 at 8:10 PM

    I completely agree it is vital to help students develop and enhance the use of digital literacy. This helps them in so many different aspects of life inside and outside of school. I also agree when you talk about your information diet. I too get my news intake from things like Facebook or TikTok. It is important that we begin to use and find more reliable sources for our news, especially if we are expected to teach our students to do so. Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading your thoughts!
    -Ella Rollings

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