Teaching Information Literacy

Taking all of these dynamics into consideration, how do we move students beyond viewing source-based research as a tedious exercise or mere formality in the writing process and towards viewing it as an iterative, creative, and exploratory process central to critical thinking, enabling us to expand our perspectives and question our assumptions? How do we ensure we are teaching students to critically engage with source materials (whether oral, print, or digital), to employ search tools effectively, to select appropriate sources for the research inquiry, to recognize the power dynamics animating information creation, distribution, and access, and to synthesize and use information in an effective and ethical manner?

The strategies identified in this handbook focus on the class discussions and activities, the design or structure of research-based assessments, and the assignment instruction sheets you develop for your course. Each of these elements, working together, can have a significant impact on how students understand and relate to research and information sources.

While you are not required to cover every concept in your course — in fact, no single lesson or project can cover everything students need to learn — by focusing your assignments, big or small, on specific research practices and information literacy concepts, you can help students put together a piece of the puzzle. Inserting opportunities for thoughtful, repeated exposure to increasingly complex research activities throughout each program of study may be the most effective way to develop competent, well-rounded researchers equipped to employ effective and ethical research practices across academic, professional, and personal domains.

Taking a collaborative approach with librarians at your institution can help support your efforts. Librarians have specialized expertise in teaching and applying information literacy practices in a variety of contexts. They often offer custom services to support student learning, including consultations with faculty to discuss research assignments, in-class synchronous workshops, asynchronous learning materials and activities, student consultations, and more.