Blog 2
The Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education comprehensively defines information literacy as “the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning” (2015). In our increasingly digital environment, it would be impossible to be deemed information literate without also attaining technology literacy and media literacy.
I felt that the goals of the “Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education” are very similar to the “Framework for 21stCentury Learning” as both strive to educate learners who have not only mastered core subjects, but have also learned how to be critical thinkers and responsible information consumers andproducers. The main readings this week all centered around frameworks, which provide a foundation of the desired skills and “dispositions” that a 21stcentury learner should have to be considered “metaliterate”. The frameworks are similar to standards in that they outline the desired skills and outcomes without telling educators exactly how/what to teach to achieve the end goals.
I am lucky to have a short commute so I do not often listen to podcasts, but I found that I enjoyed this one from the Liturgists. They did a great job breaking down what constitutes fake news and how media bias can influence the way that the news is presented. There were several things that stuck with me from the podcast, one of which is the idea that “the bigger the claim, the more evidence you need to support it”. This would be a good guiding statement in a lesson on citing sources or determining whether news is authentic or not. Another takeaway from the podcast is that local news can sometimes be the best source for genuine news as it is the easiest to fact check. When they began discussing information diets, the statement that “it is easy to tell when you’re fat” drove home the point that when it comes to real calories, it can be easy to tell if you are getting the right nutrition based on how your body reacts, however it is harder to tell the “nutritional value” of your information diet. If you get the majority of your news from social media sources, you are probably consuming an information diet of empty calories.
I believe that the information diet of a school librarian should be a well-balanced diet of credible news sources, professional resources, blogs from fellow librarians, and other sites to suit personal interests. It may also be beneficial to regularly consume some general pop culture news so that when your students begin “flossing” and “orange justice-ing” in line, you at least know what Fortnite is and why it is relevant to them.
American Library Association. (2015, February 9). Framework for information literacy for higher education. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/ilframework
Gungor, M. & McHargue, M. (2017, March 7). Fake news & media literacy. The Liturgists Podcast. Podcast retrieved from http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2017/3/7/fake-news-media-literacy
Kristi,
ReplyDeleteI love how you said a diet full of social media news is empty calories. I could not agree more! Although I am a user of Facebook, I find myself using it to keep up with friends, old classmates, and groups that my children are members of. Now, my sweet older mother will call every once in a while in a tizzy because she read something on Facebook or Twitter and she takes it to heart- word for word! I try to explain to her that anyone can post an article about any subject, but she can't seem to wrap her head around that idea. With that said, the kids at school love when I can name the floss, orange justice, or discuss Fortnite or Pokemon, all of which I would be unable to do without the use of social media.
I definitely feel that the information diet of a school librarian must be well-balanced! I hope to never become the little old librarian who gets my news from only one source. As media specialists, especially in the school setting, we must learn to use various news sources and teach our students to do the same.
Jayme
Kristi,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and I think you made great points. I also loved the podcast from the Liturgists. Their reminder to be skeptical of claims and news was helpful as I'm teaching 4th and 5th graders to evaluate sources. I agree a diet of solely social media would be full of empty calories, but occisionally needed to stay current with society.
Hi Kristi,
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! I agree with you that we must also be tech and media literate to be considered information literate in today’s world. I think that a great way to teach our students about the problems with getting their news from social media is to do a lesson on echo chambers. When you read or listen to a new story that echoes your existing opinion of a person or an issue, then you’re less likely to question the validity of that story. The comments section of social media news posts often help to strengthen the walls of the echo chamber. The psychological factors that drive fake news are interesting, and by informing our students of these issues we can help them become more mindful as they form their own information diets.
Casey Marlowe