Information literacy for academics - IL Project/Learning Services

Integrating Information Literacy into the Curriculum

Current practice in information literacy can be grouped into the following three broad categories.

Generic - Voluntary, extra-curricular classes or activities. No connection to a student’s course of study.

Parallel - Extra-curricular classes or activities developed to complement a specific subject area, course or assignment. May be voluntary or compulsory.

Integrated or Embedded - Classes and activities that have been developed jointly by faculty and librarians to achieve course objectives and outcomes. These activities are seamlessly incorporated into subject based assignments and form part of the course assessment.

(adapted from the Australian & New Zealand Information Literacy Framework, 2004 p6)

Curriculum integration is the best approach for developing information literacy because it aids in student-centred learning at point of need. By using information literacy standards to develop course outcomes and assessment criteria, students can see the direct relevance of information literacy to their studies. It also provides the possibility of systematic and sustainable development of information literacy over a course of study.

Integration into the curriculum provides all students with an equal opportunity to become information literate. The alternative is an unrealistic expectation that every student is information literate enough to recognise their own need for help and motivated to take appropriate steps.

Suggestions for integrating information literacy into coursework:

introduce information literacy early and sequentially in coursework
design information literacy tasks in collaboration with librarians and other learning support personnel
ensure information literacy tasks relate to the curriculum and involve critical thinking skills
give information literacy objectives and tasks in assignments
assign marks for the information component
have a means of checking research – use research logs or annotated bibliographies for evaluation of information

Steps to get started:

Explore ways that the curriculum can be designed to include information literacy standards,
Make an appointment with your Subject Librarian at the commencement of your curriculum renewal/development process,
Discuss with your Subject Librarian what you want your students to achieve or what the learning outcomes or learning objectives are.

Information Literacy - Academic Staff
Introduction	What is Information Literacy?	Information Literacy Standards	Information Literacy and the University of Auckland
Integrating Information Literacy into the curriculum	Examples	What help can the Library provide?	References

Information Literacy - Academic Staff