DE Oracle @ UMUC

Hallmark Guides - Information Literacy

Anna Van Wie

Director, Learning Outcomes Assessment

School of Undergraduate Studies

Published: May-June 2011

Category: » Online-pedagogy » Teaching-strategies

Definition

Graduates will be able to determine an information need and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the appropriate information.

Graduates will be able to:

1. Determine the nature and extent of information needed.
2. Access needed information effectively and efficiently.
3. Evaluate information and sources critically.
4. Individually, or as a member of a group, use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose.
5. Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use and access of information.

Sample Outcome

General 100-200 Level

• Develop research topics and use a variety of background sources to refine research questions.
• Use a variety of search tools (library databases, web sites, online catalogs).
• Select and evaluate information relevant to a need.
• Complete a basic research assignment using library and other appropriate sources.
• Cite selected sources properly.

300-400 Level

• Draw on information in previous coursework to formulate and refine a research question.
• Identify and access information sources relevant to an area of study and use these to complete a research project.
• Critically evaluate content from multiple information sources.
• Value and demonstrate intellectual integrity.

Sample Assignment

300-400 Level

Life Sciences

1. Identify a topic from the life sciences.
2. Retrieve 2 peer-reviewed papers from the library databases in full text format. One of the papers should be less than one year old and the other ten years old or more.
3. Provide proper APA citation of each paper.
4. Summarize the information in each paper in your own words.
5. Describe how information about this topic has advanced in ten years.

Credits:

SUS outcomes based on ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards and sample outcomes based on SUNY Owego Undergraduate and UMUC Library Information Literacy Outcomes.

Thanks to Deb McLaughlin for the assignment example.

Resources/Links

• ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education - http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm
• ACRL Standards for Science and Technology Disciplines - http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/infolitscitech.cfm

Have Questions?

For more information on the Information Literacy Hallmark, contact Beth Mulherrin, SUS, emulherrin@umuc.edu