PUNCAK PERDANA CAMPUS

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Master of Science in Knowledge Management

IM 701

Management of Information & Knowledge Resources

IMC 720

CRITICAL REVIEW 1: NON-RESEARCH ARTICLE

“The Importance of Information Literacy to Support Lifelong Learning in
Convergence Era”

Prepared by:
Siti Jasiah Binti Jasmi
2020510421

Prepared for:
Professor Madya Dr. Wan Ab Kadir Wan Dollah

Submission Date:
23 May 2020
 The Importance of Information Literacy to Support Lifelong Learning in Convergence Era
by
Saiful Farik Mat Yatin Saifudin Salim, Mohd Fakrullah Mahmood and Aryanti Binti Ahmad.
Faculty of Information Management, Puncak Perdana Campus, UiTM Selangor, Malaysia
(International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development)

Abstract
This article highlight about the need to implement information literacy skills to enhance the
lifelong learning process in this current digital world. According to what being written, the authors
were discussing and focusing on information literacy (IL) concept and its role towards an
individual lifelong learning (LL) process. It provides meaning and clarification about the
terminology used and precise explanation regarding the scenario in the introduction section. The
information literacy approach and theory has been discussed briefly in order to justify the
relationship between information literacy and lifelong learning. The authors also provide an
overview of information literacy practices among the students and it scenario in the society. In the
discussion and recommendation about the topic was at last identify the similar characteristic of
people who perform information literacy and lifelong learning in their daily life. The article also
provide the advantages of people performing lifelong learning with using the information literacy
skills to support the learning process. At the end of the article, the authors highlighted the
important of information literacy skills in conducting the lifelong learning process and also the
positive impact on implementation of both information literacy and lifelong learning theory.

According to the content of the article, it can be categorize as educational article as it

describing academic concepts and it implementation with other concepts. The authors had direct
the readers with providing guidance, example and concise explanation regarding the topic to make
reader understand the relationship between those concepts. For an example, the author state that
“in the age of lifelong learning, information literacy is an important skill to move ahead across the
globe, flooded with information in an unprecedented way. The information literate, has an ability
to take informed decisions or solve their problems and know how to learn. Information literacy is
an enabler to touch all the dimensions of learning and it is the key to success of anyone’s life in the
information society”. The main theory discussed is about information literacy and also lifelong
learning were clearly stated in the abstract and systematically written with main title given on top
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of the page with authors name and organization background. However, the authors did not mention
their designation within the organization thus can make reader wondering who wrote the article
either the lecturers, students, or might be any officer related to the organization. It is important to
tell a bit about the author’s background so that readers will know that the authors are person who
involved professionally in academic field. By that, it will make this article as a reliable sources of
information and can be use without much worried. In addition, the abstract provide a synopsis or
background of the article and what the author try to deliver to the reader. It provides keyword at
the end of the abstract regarding the topic discussed. This will give ideas to the reader about the
whole content of the article and can help them to determine whether it is suitable or not with their
needs.

Accordingly, the main theme of this article is about the importance of information literacy
concepts which should be use directly in implementing the lifelong learning among the society.
This concept successfully stated in the abstract and also introduction of the article. Furthermore, it
discuss on the definition, skills and related theory of the concept in order to provide
comprehensive content about the topic. This article also focused on providing the need of
information literacy skills to be use and adapt with the technology and media use to support
continuous learning process. The skills required such as the ability to capture accurate information,
retrieve from the trusted sources, analyze and use it in ethical way. Information literacy skills
nowadays must be extend with new skills to suit with digital information literacy as technology
become advance from day to day. An individual who perform lifelong learning should equip
themselves with proper skills as a directed guidance to access accurate sources. They also can refer
to the information professionals like qualified librarian, lecturers and researchers to get
confirmation and certainty about the information acquisition process.

In conjunction with the title, there is another concept that being discuss together with
information literacy, that is lifelong learning (LL). Lifelong learning has been define as learning
that continues throughout a lifetime as given by the authors in this article. According to my
understanding and previous knowledge about the lifelong learning terminology, it is ‘a process of
acquiring knowledge or skills either by formal or informal education without limitation of age and
time’. But somehow there is no specific meaning provided by the author referring to any
dictionaries or other reference sources. For an example definition given by Cambridge Dictionary
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online, “LL is the process of gaining knowledge and skills throughout your life, often to help you
do your job properly” or by The Oxford Handbook of Lifelong Learning which provide few
definition given by the scholars. Authors should provide meaning from the trusted reference
sources to gain more precise and accurate explanation about the terms. Besides that, there is no
explanation regarding the lifelong learning process or elements indicate to scope of the field. May
be some readers cannot understand the LL concept just by reading the simple definition. By that,
authors should give some clear point regarding the concepts because readers might want to know
the basic process of lifelong learning. Additionally, authors also relate the IL with socio-cultural
theory which shows that knowledge is the relationship between others of people which consider by
the individual or group members. Authors also address statement according to (Vygotsky, 1978),
in the collaborative environment the interaction between learner and other people, objects and
events can describe as sociocultural theories which overview on their learning and development
process.
The authors’ purpose in writing the article is to highlight the skills needed by people
nowadays to face the digital environment in the education field. The skill refer to the information
literacy which is important to enable people get the right information to solve their problems and
for making decision. This also indicate that the successful of a learner is depend on his or her
ability in managing the learning workflow. In addition, author also describe the relation between
IL in supporting lifelong learning among society. There is few statement that refer to the
relationship between information literacy and lifelong learning which state that the effective of
learning depends on the skills to manage the information like access, evaluate, communicate and
ethics in using information. This is how the IL concepts play their role in completing the process
of LL.
Instead of giving information from facts and scholars, the authors also address their own
perspective regarding the attitude of the society in providing information literacy, media use and
important of self-efficacy. Firstly, they notice that the rapid changes of media and technology will
encourage society become more information literate in identify useful information can encourage
society more knowledgeable. Consequently, the term information literacy not only focus on
reading and writing only but it covers the process of searching and using information that involve
the media tools to get the right information and disseminate it to the right person. Using a
technology also involves the ability of society in understanding a skill in access information that
available in a digital format. Secondly, they also mention about the tools and media that society
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use to support lifelong learning process in digital age. This refer to interaction between human-
computer interactions. Unfortunately, not much examples given related to examples of tools and
media for the use of digital learning. In the other hand, the authors added that in facing a digital
environment, people should change their information literacy activities from print-based culture to
media culture that encourage the socialization of young people on digital networks in support
lifelong learning. Thirdly, the authors give emphasis on the important of Self-efficacy in
conducting information literacy. The meaning of self-efficacy have been successfully given in the
article to increase reader understanding about the terms. Self-efficacy refers to the ability of a
person in managing and determining actions to achieve the target, according to Bandura (1997).
The author again quotes from the same scholar which underlines that individuals who have a
strong sense of self-efficacy will equip themselves to rely on their own initiative. It shows that a
strong self-efficacy will give an impact to accomplish LL from IL process or activities among
individual or society.

The main idea in this article is information literacy skills that needed to manage the
information from many sources to process that information to be useful information. All the
sources must be filtered and manage carefully to get the quality of the information. The skills to
locate, evaluate and use information is very important especially impact of the explosion of online
library and Internet resources. IL is the term being applied to the skills of information problem
solving (American Library Association, 2000). IL skills come from learning and using the tools,
techniques and methods. These skills are very necessary in conducting learning process either
through the formal or informal ways.

This article has indicated the main points through separating the points by paragraph and
provide title for each paragraph. The points were arrange accordingly from the main topic about
information literacy, lifelong learning and proceed with the application of IL and its relation with
other theory. At the end of the article, the authors provide few recommendation and conclusion
about the impact and strong relationship in implementing both IL and LL. The ideas have been
highlighted in a simple statement and in number formatted which can be easily identified by the
readers.

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 In addition, the terminology and concept describes in this article are not the original
research by the authors. By that, the author has significantly provide citation for every statement or
sentence taken from the original scholar or main resources. Citation of the other people work is
given directly in the paragraph and also at the reference section in the end of the article. The IL
definition for instance, “IL can be defined as a process for problem solving for their information
needs by applying a systematic approach to locating, placing, applying, and synthesizing
information and evaluating the overall process in terms of effectiveness and efficiency
(Businessdictionary.com)” and also “IL is the tools can be used to solve the problems which need
special skills (American Library Association, 2000).” These definitions taken from two sources
which are from Business dictionary.com (online dictionary) and from the American Library
Association. The reference part listed all the sources use throughout the article and cite according
to APA citation format arranged alphabetically.

Even though the main points are structured well according to the topic and paragraph, but
there is no clear and justify point for strengths and weaknesses. Readers will not simply identify
either the strength or weaknesses of the topic without reading through the whole article. From my
review, I found few strengths of information literacy implementation in the learning process. IL
can help student to recognize a need for information and they can construct strategy to locate and
accessing information. IL can help to expansion of knowledge and creation of new knowledge,
whether it is for educational or personal reasons. Besides that, IL can help people to gain their
knowledge and skills and also assist them to the part of social transformation and integrated them
into the society. In contrast, there is no weakness or negative statement present in the article.

At the end of the article, there are few recommendations given by the author. However,
there is no specific heading or title being given for the list of the recommendation. What I can
assume is the author find out three characteristics of people who involve in both information
literacy and lifelong learning. The characteristics are self-motivated and self-directed, self-
empowering, and self-actuating. These three items were explained in the recommendation
paragraph. In addition, there is also four statements which refer to the impact of practicing IL and
LL together. It indicates that:

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1. Lifelong learning will offer a set of choices and chances for individual to sharing an information
that improve personal, family and societal matters.
2. Quality of education for both formal and informal from early school setting until working
environment that support the job training and produce a quality staff.
3. With the blended of information literacy and lifelong learning process, it will encourage an
individual to improve their career with a reward, making a right decision in business
performance.
4. An individual will effectively participate in social and cultural environment, either local or
higher level of community to fulfill the professional goals in supporting a lifelong learning
process.

Conclusions and Implications

From my opinion and review for this article, it is fluent and easy to read starting from the
title until the conclusion given. It is structured from the introduction as the beginning, followed by
the definition and theory as the main body and end with precise conclusion. The writing clearly
define the purpose of the article and the sentences reflect to the topic discuss. The information
given is important to me as it tells the scenario and important of information literacy to support the
lifelong learning process in this technology era. The traditional concept of IL also shift to digital
information literacy with the use of computer, network and other IT tools. In order to implement
LL, a person must have required skills in seeking information and sharing knowledge among group
members. This information provide support and create awareness among the public or society.

Furthermore, this information can be used in a practical way because everyone not left
from being information society and learning society which required them to access for certain
information. So, by understanding the skills and its important towards learning process, people can
start practicing the correct way to gain information and develop knowledge in this challenging
digital era. The major point constructed is relevant with the content of this article and may benefit
the readers. I agree with the topic describe by the authors that relate people, skills, tools and theory
of IL and LL. It helps to justify the importance of IL as a set of skills that can improved and
support society development through learning process. One of the idea that impressed my reading
is the recommendation generate in the article. With the combine concept and implementation of IL
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and LL, it polish three types of learner characters that are self-motivated and self-directed, self-
empowering and self-actuating. These characters develop a highly motivated person and
independent learner in the society.

Towards the end of my reading, I notice that some points are not describe in details
which show lack of information provided. I suggest that in future, the authors should clarify more
on the IL skills in specific and organize way so that readers can understand directly the skills they
can practice. The authors can provide detail process of information literacy or activities which
relate to IL. Although there is a paragraph title with IL skills, but it do not stated the real skills
needed to become literate individual. It rather provide the advantages of IL in lifelong learning
process. In addition, the article also should describe some bad impact if not using the right skills in
implementing the lifelong learning process. As the information nowadays scattered everywhere
and can be published by anyone, it is crucial to highlight the bad impact as a precautions steps to
avoid misleading information.

Overall Assessment

I personally interested in this topic since the beginning of my reading because it is

important to know how information literacy can support lifelong learning. This article use simple
word to describe the points and the language also can be categorize as easy to medium level. This
topic may be familiar enough for those in library science or information management field but
through the information and discussion given in this article, readers from different background also
can understand the fundamental concept of information literacy. Furthermore, the sub topics are
divided into different paragraph with a given title and the sentence use is not too long which make
reader easy to understand the author’s idea. The authors also successfully arrange the article
according to the basic format of academic writing which start with introduction, main body
content, some recommendations and also end with conclusion. References and citations also
provided to acknowledge the original sources of the information and it may support the author’s
main idea. Hopefully this article can be as one of the reading material for people who
implementing lifelong learning in their life.

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Reference

Salim, S. F. M. Y. S., Mahmood, M. F., & Ahmad, A., (2018). The Importance of Information
Literacy to Support Lifelong Learning in Convergence Era. International Journal of Academic
Research in Progressive Education and Development, 7(3), 352–362. Retrieved from
http://hrmars.com/hrmars_papers/The_Importance_of_Information_Literacy_to_Support_Lifelong_Learnin
g_in_Convergence_Era.pdf

Lifelong learning meaning. Retrieved from

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/lifelong-learning

Lifelong learning definition. Retrieved from

https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195390483.001.0001/oxfordhb-
9780195390483-e-001.