Abstract

Information Literacy is one of the dimensions of digital competence and, in today’s information and media-based society, it should be a skill that everyone develops, especially secondary school teachers due to their influence on this crucial stage of student development. In this investigation we aim to determine the current level of information literacy of secondary school teachers in Spain. For this purpose we have designed a questionnaire (n=2,656) which is divided into two parts: the first asks questions related to belief and self-perception of information literacy indicators, and the second presents practical cases in which the teachers have to demonstrate their skills in information literacy. The results confirm that the beliefs of secondary school teachers show rather high values but that, even if the level of information literacy that the teachers have is acceptable, there are certain aspects of the indicators related to assessment, management and transformation of information in which the teachers display serious shortcomings. This highlights the need to establish a training plan for information literacy for the secondary school teachers in Spain.

Abstract

The South African government has emphasized the need to expand the role of media education to promote equal access, with a level of quality and relevance that will empower disadvantaged groups. However, it is a challenging, time-consuming process, as well as requiring considerable and consistent expenditure and partnerships between many donor agencies. There is little research on the causes behind unequal access to technology, or comparative studies of the barriers that impede the diffusion and adoption of media and information literacy in South Africa. It is thus not surprising that the media and information literacy component is still missing from the agenda that lists Africa’s myriad problems, as well as the absence of qualified teachers, training for the trainers and the presence of IT literacy in the curricula, all of which are essential elements for any future development. The UNESCO model of curricula could help close the digital divide and promote social inclusion. As a contribution to that goal, this study investigates some of the pertinent issues related to media and information literacy via a sample of students at the University of Cape Town. This research offers some practical solutions on how to help raise the levels of media and information literacy among the disadvantaged, in the case in South Africa.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to reflect critically, using the latest data taken from reports, research, publications and other sources, on how to empower children in their daily Internet browsing given current online risks. These risks faced by children are a real concern for teachers, families and researchers and this article will focus on analyzing those online risks which produce the most emotional distress for children, namely grooming and cyberbullying. The use of the Internet, and the ease with which information or situations can be seen on it, has broken the social taboos associated with the risks that children are exposed to. Data such as 44% of children in Spain having felt sexually harassed on the Internet at any time in 2002, or 20% of U.S. children suffering cyberbullying according to a survey of 4,400 students in 2010, indicates the severity of the problem. Therefore, as stated in UNESCO’s MIL Curriculum for Teachers (Media and Information Literacy), it is necessary to work on the responsible use of the Internet by children and to empower them to reduce the possibility of them becoming future victims or bullies. At the end of the article we will develop a list of recommendations to be considered in the design of educational activities focused on the critical training of the minor’s use of the Internet.

Abstract

Changes in technology have opened up a new kind of participatory citizenry; one in which engaged citizens’ blog, post, tweet, upload, create, and otherwise interact with others online. This paper explores the intersection of media and information literacy with civic participation by examining three specific programs operating in the United States. These projects include «Powerful Voices for Kids», «The Salzburg Academy on Media and Social Change»; and «Cultivating the NetGeneration of Youth as Global Citizens and Media Literate Leaders in a Digital Age», in which educators and students at schools in the USA and Africa meet virtually and physically to explore collaborative methods that use media to build bridges of understanding. Through analysis of each program’s practices and personal interviews with the program director, consistent methods for developing a strong media and information literacy program with a focus on democratic participation are revealed. These include a need for programs to reflect a respect for student interest in popular culture, willingness for program educators to put aside assumptions that students lack an interest in current events, recognition that technology use is a means to an end, not the ultimate goal, and the utilization of a support team for the instructors or educators.

Abstract

In knowledge society, there is currently a call for cultivating a combination of media literacy and information literacy. This, however, requires cooperation from these two separate fields of study, and uncertainty regarding their boundaries hinders a smooth merger. It is unclear whether they are subsets of each other or separate entities. In this study, we have explored the relationship between these two fields by empirically mapping out their territories and discussing their similarities and differences. We have made use of the Web of Science database to delineate the content and boundary of these two fields. Our findings from 1956 to 2012 show that the two fields have different authors, university affiliations, and journals; they also differ in terms of academic origin, scope, and social concern. Information literacy has a closer tie to library science, while media literacy is more related to media content, media industry, and social effects. Due to their different academic orientations, the two fields adopt different analytical approaches. We have found that media literacy is not a subset of information literacy as some scholars have suggested, although the two fields have similarities. They share the same goal, and their publications overlap in terms of subject areas, countries of origin, and titles. The two fields could find common ground by cooperating together to contribute to the promotion of new literacy in knowledge societies.

Abstract

Among the competence dimensions involved in digital literacy, the emotional dimension has to do with learning to control negative emotions, developing empathy and building a digital identity characterized by affective-personal balance in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). We know that, depending on their personality traits, individuals act differently when faced with information behaviours. The question raised is to what extent the psychological characteristics of the recipients are included in a specific strategy of information literacy, considering that intrinsic motivation and attitude of the participants constitute an essential aspect of these learning processes. Studies on personality traits and informational behaviour, such as that carried out by Heinström, guide us in this regard. The proposal to include simple, brief personality tests, using ICT applications or social networks, would allow us to know beforehand the personality traits of participants in an information literacy program, adapt it to their characteristics, and improve its effectiveness.

Abstract

Academic librarians all over the world have assumed an extensive teaching load, in spite of the poor training and teaching experience they have in general. Their professional activities suffers from a lack of recognition and appreciation by other faculty members and from university administrators. The information literacy instruction provided by academic librarians supports the students in obtaining the skills necessary to complete their degrees and master's projects. In Spain these job duties should be recognized by establishing the rank of “faculty librarian”, a title held by many librarians in other countries.

Abstract

This article reflects on the need to re-interpret the control and evaluation of information resources in the current environment of online searching and the information domination of search engines and social networks. Taking into account the recent announcement of the ending of ALA’s Guide to reference, and considering the years before the disappearance of selective directories of web resources like Intute, we attempt to explore the potential of content curation as a conceptual and methodological approach to control and evaluate quality information resources. These resources can be viewed as “continents” with a clear and planned identity where the “contents” experience a kind of dissolution within search engines and social networks. This article proposes the concept of “continent curation” as a method of valuation and contextualization for reference resources within the realm of library and information literacy work.

Abstract

In this article, we examine the need to re-interpret the control and evaluation of information resources in an environment of online searches and information use that is dominated by search engines and social networks. Taking into account the recent announcement of the end of the ALA’s prestigious Guide to reference, preceded several years ago by the disappearance of selective directories of web resources, including Intute, we explore the potential of content curation as a conceptual and methodological approach that can also be applied to the control and evaluation of quality information resources. These resources can be viewed as “containers” with a clear identity, whose “contents” experience a kind of dissolution within search engines and social networks. Here, we propose the concept of “container curation” as a method for evaluating and contextualising information resources within the realm of libraries and information literacy.

Abstract

The aim is to propose that libraries include courses on "Time management skills" within their educational and information literacy services. We consider that users need these skills because of several factors that force us to spend too much time in informational processes, including the excess of content, our habit of 24/7 connectivity, the excess of tasks to be done, and the ubiquity of information. Finally, we suggest some of the issues to be included in the training: skills and tools that help to organize time, and especially attitudes and values to decide how, when and how to spend time on the demands of information and communication.