Embedding Information Literacy through critical skills and a new curriculum

“LILAC Annual Conference,Swansea University, April 10-12, 2017

Lorna DoddSenior Librarian, Maynooth University, lorna.dodd@nuim.ie, Tel: 01 708 6447, @LornaDodd

A new curriculum with a key focus on critical skills

Information Literacy

Problem Solving

Independent Learning

Critical Thinking

Analysis

Reflection

Communication Skills

Understand academic standards

Ethical Responsibility

Critical Skills in the new Curriculum

Maynooth University Graduate Attributes

“…graduates are expected to be… capable of gathering and critiquing information from a variety of sources”(Maynooth University, 2014)

Deep Knowledge &

Critical intellectual

skills

Autonomous and

responsible learners

Breadth of perspective

Skills for life and work

A Maynooth Education

Content Vs Skills

An opportunity for the Library to be heard….

• Mapping & evaluating the information landscape

• Managing & presenting information

• Managing the transition

• Understanding ethical & social dimensions of information

• Researching within the disciplines

Deep Knowledge &

Critical intellectual

skills

Autonomous and

responsible learners

Breadth of perspective

Skills for life and work

Information Literacy Framework for ‘A Maynooth Education’

Designing the curriculum through collaboration

Weeks 1-2: “learning to learn” includes basics of library

Weeks 3-4: “information literacy” assessing, finding sources and lots of other things

Weeks 5-8: “essay writing” small Wikipedia assignment embedded

Week 9: “introduction to quantitative thinking” (basic excel, correlation, etc)

Week 10 to 12: “public speaking”

Semester 1

Information Literacy has become the centre of the critical skills modules

Semester 2

White Paper Assignment-Integrating discipline knowledge &

critical skills -Using topics such as homelessness

drug liberalization, commuting, cyber security, addiction

Poster Presentation-Capstone for Critical Skills Year

-Research, contextualize & demonstrate the practice of a

Critical Skill developed this year

-Demonstrate knowledge of a frame and how the practices embedded in this frame can be applied in practice

Before Assignment: Review the ACRL frames with the students

After Assignment: Students identify which ‘Frames’ were applicable and write about how the exercise developed both “knowledge practices” and “knowledge dispositions”

Critical Skills Tutors deliver content and mark assignments…….

If information Literacy is truly embedded and in context…..

….Then so should its delivery…..

Librarians train the tutors but don’t deliver content……..

Image: http://disney-sheet-music.com/let-it-go-lyrics/

If Information literacy is to be truly embedded we need to Let it Go!

“I’m trying to constantly embed and reinforce information literacy in the exercises… [it] is found throughout”Dr Brian McKenzie, Critical Skills Coordinator

Critical Skills has had a seismic impact leading us to ….. review our approach to IL delivery

…Opening up possibilities in other parts of the curriculum

…And revising our organisational structures

Carbery, A & Leahy, S (2016) "From traditional to critical; highlighting issues of injustice and discrimination through primary sources", In Pagowsky, N & McElroy, K (Eds) Critical Pedagogy Handbooks, Vol. 2, ACRL Press

Heider, K (2010) "Ten Tips for Implementing a Successful Embedded Librarian Program", Public Services Quarterly, vol. 6, pp. 110-121

Keleher, P et al (2011) "The Challenge of Embedding Information Literacy as a Graduate Attribute into Engineering and Technology Courses, Proceedings of the 41stASEE/IEE Frontiers in Education Conference, October 12-15, Rapid City, SD, USA

Kempcke, K (2002) "The Art of War for Librarians: Academic Culture, Curriculum Reform, and the Wisdom from Sun Tzu", Libraries and the Academy, 2(4) pp. 529-551

Klebansky, A & Fraser, S (2013) "A Strategic Approach to Curriculum Design for Information Literacy in teacher Education – Implementing an Information Literacy Conceptual Framework", Australian Journal of Teacher Education 38(11) pp. 103-125

Maynooth University (2015) "A Maynooth Education" https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/Maynooth%20Education%20Brochure_0.pdf[Accessed May24, 2016]

Maynooth University (2014) "Maynooth University Graduate Attributes" https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sites/default/files/assets/document/Graduate%20Attributes%20Final%20version_0.pdf [Accessed May24, 2016]

Weiner, J (2011) "Is there a difference between critical thinking and information literacy? A systematic review 2000-2009, Journal of Information Literacy 5(2) pp.81-92Word Counter: 527

References