INFORMATION LITERACY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Bagheni Henry Masereka

Librarian & Higher Education Quality
Assurance Practioner
E-mail: baghenihenry@gmail.com
Tel: 0777559590

It is not the strongest of the

species that survive, nor the
most intelligent, but the one
most responsive to change.

- Charles Darwin

HE environment & Information literacy

HE is facing many great challenges and
opportunities.
HE in the new century has to deal with competition.
Need for Information literate Colleges and
Universities.
IL is a major need, topic of concern and research in
the HE sector.

Information Literacy defined:

American Library Association:

Information Literacy is the set of skills needed to find, retrieve, analyze,

and use information.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education:

Information literacy is an intellectual framework for identifying, finding,

understanding, evaluating and using information.

Faculty may think of as the Research Process.

INFORMATION LITERACY

To be information literate, a person must be able to

recognize when information is needed and have the
ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the
information needed.
*ALA Presidential Commission on Information
Literacy, 1989.

Group Task !!!

What is the distinction between

Digital Literacy & Information
Literacy !

INFORMATION LITERACY
It is always important to point out to the distinction between
Digital Literacy and Information Literacy !
Information literacy is the one, which includes:
a set of generic skills and competencies;
skills and concepts that are specific to a given discipline,
subject matter area, profession or sector.
Information Literacy:
is different from, but encompasses and employs Computer/
Digital Literacy and Media Literacy
goes far beyond basic instruction in how to use a library.

Z.Pejova: Information Literacy Promotion..., IVIG 2005, Charles University, Pragu

Information Literacy
Goes far beyond library introduction and basic
search skills
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Significance of Information Literacy

Information literacy connects all

constituencies across campus,
weaves information resources and practiced
skills into the curriculum,
equips individuals for lifelong learning,
promotes curricular revitalization and
challenges

Problems

Everyone information access, overload,

quality
Students gaining essential information
knowledge & skills
Schools providing meaningful learning
opportunities
Society providing opportunity for our children
to succeed at the highest possible levels.

The Solution?

Speed things up?

Pack in more and more
content?
Add more technology?

Conclusion
address changing expectations
providing quality education.
attaining the goal of IL
an IL vision is necessary for every institution.
who ensures IL in HE
how IL is ensured.
new initiatives and analysis
Towards Institutional or National IL Policy?

Questions?

Thank you all