This is a syllabus for a class taught at Drake University. The class is entirely focused on information literacy and has three objectives: to develop the ability to do university level research, to improve skills in critically evaluating sources of information, and to raise awareness of the ethical and social issues associated with greater ease of access to information.
Interesting overview of a faculty perspective on integrating information literacy into a first year seminar theme-based course. This faculty member collaborated with Mary Jane Petrowski, a librarian well-known in information literacy circles. The article touches on assignments that build information literacy skills and offers interesting insights into the nature of first year student preferences.
Although this is a teaching with technology symposium, some of the course proposals listed include information literacy concepts. In fact, in most cases, the abstracts link to the course-related pages and assignments.
Following are some of the described projects that seem relevant to first year courses:
Looks interesting, but no Web site linked, although the abstract promises a link. On a Web search for the page, a page for the course was found with a picture of the class, but no other content. Contact information is available in the abstract.
Tutorial: "Information Literacy & You."
One of the most interesting, helpful information literacy tutorials on the Web. Great section on defining and refining topics with use of image-mapping. Each part of the tutorial includes either some interactivity, an option to test yourself, or both. In addition. most sections include a web-based form they call "Research Log" that enables the student to either e-mail his/her research processes to whatever e-mail address they enter. Thus, this allows the option to either e-mail to yourself or to your professor.
This proposal was carried out by five different faculty, each for his/her own First Year Seminar, each in collaboration with a different librarian. The intent was to develop a series of different models of integrating information literacy into First Year Seminars that others could draw upon in future years. Below is a list of each seminar individually:
Varga, Robert.First Year Seminar 2000: Myths, Legends, and Earth Science of the Mediterranean Region.
- Librarian: Julia Chance Gustafson
- Library Instruction Webpage
- Library Evaluation Instrument: This brief survey was used before any information literacy instruction was given by either the professor or the librarian to elicit basic information literacy skills the students were starting with. It is in Microsoft Word 98 format.
Euridge, Gareth. First Year Studies 101: The Architecture of Knowledge. Denison University: Granville, Ohio.
"TILT is an educational web site designed to introduce first year students to research sources and skills. The tutorial offers an introduction and three modules."
