Infuse the curriculum with information literacy skills.
You remember the library lady. I'm not talking about the way she used to shush you, or the disapproving looks she cast your way when your book was overdue. I'm talking about all those useful skills she taught you--skills like how to find information from many sources, how to get your hands on the right information, and figure out if it was the right information, and what to do with it once you found it. If you've ever given "stand and deliver" book report, or made a shoebox diorama about a Beverly Cleary book or whipped up a social studies or science fair exhibit, then you can thank the library lady for teaching you how to organize information, synthesize it, and present it. Yesterday's oral report may have been transformed into today's digital story, but you can bet that library lady skills are alive and kicking. In fact, they are more important than ever. |
Information literacy is actually the process of learning how to learn. And if we aren't teaching our students how to learn independently, how to evaluate content critically, and how to put information together in an authentic and compelling way, and how to communicate ideas and information effectively, then we are failing them at the most fundamental level.
The good news is that information literacy skills are at the heart and soul of Common Core Standards. Intrigued? Who wouldn't be? Let's take a closer look at information literacy and its capacity to power up learning.
The good news is that information literacy skills are at the heart and soul of Common Core Standards. Intrigued? Who wouldn't be? Let's take a closer look at information literacy and its capacity to power up learning.
Information Literacy &
Common Core Standards
Common Core Standards don't tell you what to teach, or how to teach it. They are really proficiencies looking for a home, and are designed to apply to a wide range of disciplines, teaching methods, and grade specific curriculum. But look carefully! Lurking inside each standard is an information literacy skill. Let me show you what I mean. Consider these fourth grade Common Core Standards for English Language Arts:
Common Core Standards ask student to refer to specific details and examples in a text when explaining, answering, or inferring.
That's what the library lady calls "analyzing and extracting information."
Common Core Standards ask students to "compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics."
That's what the library lady calls "evaluating information" and "selecting multiple sources."
Common Core Standards ask students to"describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect."
That's what the library lady calls "organizing and synthesizing information."
Common Core Standards ask students to "determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrase in a text."
That's what the library lady calls "accessing and using reference resources."
Common Core Standards ask students to "use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently."
That's what the library lady calls "cultivating research skills."
I could go on, but I think you get my point. Information literacy skills aren't just for library ladies anymore.
Common Core Standards ask student to refer to specific details and examples in a text when explaining, answering, or inferring.
That's what the library lady calls "analyzing and extracting information."
Common Core Standards ask students to "compare and contrast the treatment of similar themes and topics."
That's what the library lady calls "evaluating information" and "selecting multiple sources."
Common Core Standards ask students to"describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect."
That's what the library lady calls "organizing and synthesizing information."
Common Core Standards ask students to "determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrase in a text."
That's what the library lady calls "accessing and using reference resources."
Common Core Standards ask students to "use text features and search tools (e.g., key words, sidebars, hyperlinks) to locate information relevant to a given topic efficiently."
That's what the library lady calls "cultivating research skills."
I could go on, but I think you get my point. Information literacy skills aren't just for library ladies anymore.