Information Fluency
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What is Information Fluency?
Information Fluency is the set of skills needed to locate, retrieve, assess and use information to solve problems and become independent lifelong learners (Bundy 2004). |
Information Fluency is the optimal outcome when critical thinking skills are combined with information literacy and relevant computer skills.(Associated Colleges of the South, 2002)
(Hardin 2016)
Information fluent students are able to:
· determine their information needs
· locate and critically evaluate information
· solve problems
· effectively communicate their learning
· correctly reference information sources
Information Fluency skills include:
· determine their information needs
· locate and critically evaluate information
· solve problems
· effectively communicate their learning
· correctly reference information sources
Information Fluency skills include:
- Digital citizenship - safely, appropriately and ethically using and sharing information, images and multimedia
- Researching and locating information in books and online
- Critical thinking skills
- Navigating digital information online
- Evaluating sources of information to determine if they are relevant, reliable and credible
- Summarising information, note taking and paraphrasing
- Creating and presenting information products
- Respecting intellectual property to avoid plagiarism
- Referencing and citing
- Reflecting on our own learning processes
Information Fluency is the core skills set for future focused enterprise learning (Eisenberg 2008).
It is vitally important that today’s students are equipped with the skills to successfully navigate the vast amount of information available. Despite the assumption that our students are "digital natives" and, as such, have a firm grasp on technology, studies show that secondary students lack vital critical thinking skills when using information (Hough 2011, OECD 2011). As information specialists, teacher librarians are uniquely qualified to provide professional guidance to empower students with the skills and knowledge to manage and use information well (ASLA 2004 ; O’Connell 2012 ; Purcell 2010).
"The Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008) recognises that in a digital age, and with rapid and continuing changes in the ways that people share, use, develop and communicate with Information and Communication Technology (ICT), young people need to be highly skilled in its use. To participate in a knowledge-based economy and to be empowered within a technologically sophisticated society now and into the future, students need the knowledge, skills and confidence to make ICT work for them at school, at home, at work and in their communities" (ACARA 2013)
Information Fluency addresses the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities of:
- Literacy
- Information and communication technology (ICT)
- Critical and creative thinking
- Personal and social capability
- Ethical understanding
(ACARA 2013 ; ASLA 2016)
Information Fluency should not be taught in isolation. Best practice for incorporating Information Fluency in the curriculum is by embedding The Research Process in Inquiry-Based teaching and learning programs. Seek out your teacher librarian to work with you in co-planning and team-teaching information literacy with your classes (ASLA 2004; Goodnough 2005; Rytivaara & Kershner 2012).
"The Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA 2008) recognises that in a digital age, and with rapid and continuing changes in the ways that people share, use, develop and communicate with Information and Communication Technology (ICT), young people need to be highly skilled in its use. To participate in a knowledge-based economy and to be empowered within a technologically sophisticated society now and into the future, students need the knowledge, skills and confidence to make ICT work for them at school, at home, at work and in their communities" (ACARA 2013)
Information Fluency addresses the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities of:
- Literacy
- Information and communication technology (ICT)
- Critical and creative thinking
- Personal and social capability
- Ethical understanding
(ACARA 2013 ; ASLA 2016)
Information Fluency should not be taught in isolation. Best practice for incorporating Information Fluency in the curriculum is by embedding The Research Process in Inquiry-Based teaching and learning programs. Seek out your teacher librarian to work with you in co-planning and team-teaching information literacy with your classes (ASLA 2004; Goodnough 2005; Rytivaara & Kershner 2012).
“Google can bring you back 100,000 answers,
a librarian can bring you back the right one.”
Neil Gaiman
a librarian can bring you back the right one.”
Neil Gaiman
Information Literacy Vs Information Fluency
Information Literacy is a process - An outcome of this is Information Fluency.
“Information Fluency is the ability to critically think while engaging with, creating, and utilising information and technology regardless of what platform”
June Wall - NSW DET Library Coordinator
Information Literacy is a process - An outcome of this is Information Fluency.
“Information Fluency is the ability to critically think while engaging with, creating, and utilising information and technology regardless of what platform”
June Wall - NSW DET Library Coordinator
Australian Curriculum General Capabilities
| information_literacy_continuum_years_7-10_based_on__the_australian_curriculum_general_capabilities_prepared_by_c._costello1.xlsx |
Year 7 Information Fluency Program
| 2015_information_literacy_program.docx |
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References and Further Reading
Abilock, D. (2004). Information Literacy from prehistory to K–20: A new definition. Knowledge Quest. 32(4), 9-11. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/kqwebarchives/v32/32n4abilock.pdf
Abilock, D. (2007). Information Literacy. Building blocks of research: Overview of design, process and outcomes. Noo Retrieved from: http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/1over/infolit1.html
ACARA. (2016). General capabilities - The Australian Curriculum. Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/overview/introduction
Anderson, L. & Schulten, K. (2015). Skills and Strategies: Understanding Plagiarism in a Digital Age. The Learning Network. New York Times. Retrieved from http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/skills-and-strategies-understanding-plagiarism-in-a-digital-age/?_r=1
Associated Colleges of the South. (2002). ACS information fluency - definition. Retrieved from http://www.colleges.org/_oldsite/techcenter/if/if_definition.html
Australian School Library Association. (ASLA). (2004). Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. Australian School Library Association. Retrieved from: http://www.asla.org.au/policy/standards.aspx
Australian School Library Association. (2016). Joint Statement on information literacy. ASLA. Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/policy/information-literacy.aspx
Bonanno, K. (2011). Do school libraries really make a difference?. KB Enterprises (Aust) Pty Ltd. Retrieved from http://kb.com.au/school-libraries-really-make-difference/
Bundy, A. (ed.) (2004). Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework: principles, standards and practice. 2nd ed. Adelaide: Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy (ANZIIL) and Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL). Retrieved from: http://www.caul.edu.au/content/upload/files/info-literacy/InfoLiteracyFramework.pdf
Burton, J., Brown, S., & Dumbleton, M. (2014). Information Literacy: Librarians Connecting the Dots as Institutional Leaders.
Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 18.
http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2014/2014/18
Crook, J. (2016). Most students can’t tell fake news from real news, study shows. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/22/most-students-cant-tell-fake-news-from-real-news-study-shows/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
Council of Australian University Librarians. (2010). Information Literacy - Australian resources. CAUL. Retrieved from http://www.caul.edu.au/caul-programs/information-literacy/information-literacy-resources/australian
Department of Education Western Australia (2013). School library support: Information literacy. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved from: http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/schoollibrarysupport/detcms/navigation/supporting-learning/information-literacy/?oid=Category-id-11910393
DeLoatch, P. (2015). Inquiry in the Classroom: 7 Simple Tools To Get You Started. Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/inquiry-in-the-classroom/
Eisenberg, M. B. (2008). Information literacy: Essential skills for the Information Age. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 28(2), 39-47.
Goodnough, K. (2005). Fostering teacher learning through collaborative inquiry. Clearing House, 79(2), 88-92.
Grafstein, A. (2002). A discipline-based approach to information literacy. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28(4), 197-204.
Hardin, Gregory. White Paper: University of North Texas, Information Fluency Initiative, paper, March 2016; (digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc944367/), University of North Texas Libraries, Digital Library.
Hay, L. (2010). Shift happens. It’s time to rethink, rebuild and rebrand. Australian School Library Association. ACCESS 24(4). 5-10.
Hough, M. (2011). Libraries as iCentres: Helping Schools. ACCESS, 25(1) 5-9.
InformationLiteracy.org. (2006). S.O.S. for Information Literacy. Informationliteracy.org. Retrieved from http://www.informationliteracy.org/
Jacobson, L. (2017). The Smell Test: Educators can counter fake news with information literacy. Here’s how.. School Library Journal, January 2017. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2017/01/industry-news/the-smell-test-educators-can-counter-fake-news-with-information-literacy-heres-how/
Kasten, G. (2015). Critical Thinking: A Necessary Skill in the Age of Spin. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/critical-thinking-necessary-skill-g-randy-kasten
Kuhlthau CC, Maniotes, LK & Caspari, AK. (2009). Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, Connecticut.
Lupton, M. (2015). Critical evaluation of information and the Australian Curriculum. Inquiry Learning & Information Literacy. Retrieved from https://inquirylearningblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/critical-evaluation-of-information-and-the-australian-curriculum/
Lupton, M. (2014). Inquiry skills in the Australian Curriculum V6: A bird's eye view. Access (Nov.). Retrieved from https://eprints.qut.edu.au/78451/1/Lupton_ACCESS_Nov_2014_2pg.pdf
Mattson, K. (2017). The Librarian as an Instructional Partner. The Art of Teaching - Inspired Ideas. McGraw Hill Education. Retrieved from https://medium.com/inspired-ideas-prek-12/the-librarian-as-an-instructional-partner-38b2d374bbec#.f43da58p5
Maybee, C., (2015). Preparing Today’s Learners: The Role of Information Literacy in the Adoption of Innovative Pedagogies.
Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations. Paper 92. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspres/92
MCEETYA. (2008). Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Melbourne. Retrieved from: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf
McGrew, S. (2016). Why Students Can't Google Their Way to the Truth. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/11/02/why-students-cant-google-their-way-to.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news2-RM
NSW Department of Education. (2005). Library Policy - Schools. Retrieved from:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/library-policy-schools
O’Connell, J. (2012). So you think they can learn? Scan, 31(2) 5-11.
OECD (2011), Pisa 2009 Results: Students online: Digital Technologies and Performance, (Volume VI). Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Retrieved from: http://www.ecdl.org/media/PISA_2009_Results.pdf
Purcell, M. (2010). All Librarians Do Is Check out Books, Right? A Look at the Roles of a School Library Media Specialist. Library Media Connection, 29(3), 30-33.
Rytivaara, A., & Kershner, R. (2012). Co-teaching as a context for teachers’ professional learning and joint knowledge construction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 28(7), 999-1008.
Toner, G. (2011). An introduction to the Australian Curriculum. Connections, 76(Term 1). SCIS. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/an_introduction_to_the_australian_curriculum.html
Unesco. (2016). Five laws of media and information literacy. Unesco. Retrieved from
http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/Events/mil_five_laws_english.png
Watanabe-Crockett, L. (2018). 10 Essential Self-Directed Learning Questions Every Learner Can Use. Retrieved from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/10-self-directed-learning-questions?mc_cid=eacef513ce&mc_eid=20271ee80d
Watanabe-Crocket, L. (2016). 9 important lifelong learning skills for beyond school. Global Digital Citizenship Foundation. Retrieved from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/9-important-lifelong-learning-skills
Watanabe-Crocket, L. (2016). 10 strategies or enabling lifelong learners in your classrooms. Global Digital Citizenship Foundation. Retrieved from
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/10-strategies-enabling-lifelong-learners
Weisburg, H. (2017). On libraries: Fake News and the Teachable Moment. HildaWeisburg.com. Retrieved from https://hildakweisburg.com/2017/01/17/on-libraries-fake-news-and-the-teachable-moment/
Image Credits
ACARA. (2016). General capabilities - The Australian Curriculum. Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/overview/introduction
Jarrett J. Krosoczka. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jarrett_j_krosoczka.html
Valenza, J. (2009). What do TLs Teach. Poster. Licenced under Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0. Retrieved from:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78154370@N00/5761280491/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Weir, R. (2016). Information Literacy is more than just a set of skills!. The Reflective Word. Retrieved from http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/rweir/2015/05/06/information-literacy-is-more-than-just-a-set-of-skills/
Abilock, D. (2004). Information Literacy from prehistory to K–20: A new definition. Knowledge Quest. 32(4), 9-11. Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslpubsandjournals/knowledgequest/kqwebarchives/v32/32n4abilock.pdf
Abilock, D. (2007). Information Literacy. Building blocks of research: Overview of design, process and outcomes. Noo Retrieved from: http://www.noodletools.com/debbie/literacies/information/1over/infolit1.html
ACARA. (2016). General capabilities - The Australian Curriculum. Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/overview/introduction
Anderson, L. & Schulten, K. (2015). Skills and Strategies: Understanding Plagiarism in a Digital Age. The Learning Network. New York Times. Retrieved from http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/29/skills-and-strategies-understanding-plagiarism-in-a-digital-age/?_r=1
Associated Colleges of the South. (2002). ACS information fluency - definition. Retrieved from http://www.colleges.org/_oldsite/techcenter/if/if_definition.html
Australian School Library Association. (ASLA). (2004). Standards of professional excellence for teacher librarians. Australian School Library Association. Retrieved from: http://www.asla.org.au/policy/standards.aspx
Australian School Library Association. (2016). Joint Statement on information literacy. ASLA. Retrieved from http://www.asla.org.au/policy/information-literacy.aspx
Bonanno, K. (2011). Do school libraries really make a difference?. KB Enterprises (Aust) Pty Ltd. Retrieved from http://kb.com.au/school-libraries-really-make-difference/
Bundy, A. (ed.) (2004). Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework: principles, standards and practice. 2nd ed. Adelaide: Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy (ANZIIL) and Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL). Retrieved from: http://www.caul.edu.au/content/upload/files/info-literacy/InfoLiteracyFramework.pdf
Burton, J., Brown, S., & Dumbleton, M. (2014). Information Literacy: Librarians Connecting the Dots as Institutional Leaders.
Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 18.
http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2014/2014/18
Crook, J. (2016). Most students can’t tell fake news from real news, study shows. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/22/most-students-cant-tell-fake-news-from-real-news-study-shows/?ncid=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29&utm_content=FaceBook&sr_share=facebook
Council of Australian University Librarians. (2010). Information Literacy - Australian resources. CAUL. Retrieved from http://www.caul.edu.au/caul-programs/information-literacy/information-literacy-resources/australian
Department of Education Western Australia (2013). School library support: Information literacy. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved from: http://det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/schoollibrarysupport/detcms/navigation/supporting-learning/information-literacy/?oid=Category-id-11910393
DeLoatch, P. (2015). Inquiry in the Classroom: 7 Simple Tools To Get You Started. Edudemic. Retrieved from http://www.edudemic.com/inquiry-in-the-classroom/
Eisenberg, M. B. (2008). Information literacy: Essential skills for the Information Age. Journal of Library & Information Technology, 28(2), 39-47.
Goodnough, K. (2005). Fostering teacher learning through collaborative inquiry. Clearing House, 79(2), 88-92.
Grafstein, A. (2002). A discipline-based approach to information literacy. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28(4), 197-204.
Hardin, Gregory. White Paper: University of North Texas, Information Fluency Initiative, paper, March 2016; (digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc944367/), University of North Texas Libraries, Digital Library.
Hay, L. (2010). Shift happens. It’s time to rethink, rebuild and rebrand. Australian School Library Association. ACCESS 24(4). 5-10.
Hough, M. (2011). Libraries as iCentres: Helping Schools. ACCESS, 25(1) 5-9.
InformationLiteracy.org. (2006). S.O.S. for Information Literacy. Informationliteracy.org. Retrieved from http://www.informationliteracy.org/
Jacobson, L. (2017). The Smell Test: Educators can counter fake news with information literacy. Here’s how.. School Library Journal, January 2017. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2017/01/industry-news/the-smell-test-educators-can-counter-fake-news-with-information-literacy-heres-how/
Kasten, G. (2015). Critical Thinking: A Necessary Skill in the Age of Spin. Edutopia. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/critical-thinking-necessary-skill-g-randy-kasten
Kuhlthau CC, Maniotes, LK & Caspari, AK. (2009). Guided Inquiry: Learning in the 21st Century, Libraries Unlimited, Westport, Connecticut.
Lupton, M. (2015). Critical evaluation of information and the Australian Curriculum. Inquiry Learning & Information Literacy. Retrieved from https://inquirylearningblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/18/critical-evaluation-of-information-and-the-australian-curriculum/
Lupton, M. (2014). Inquiry skills in the Australian Curriculum V6: A bird's eye view. Access (Nov.). Retrieved from https://eprints.qut.edu.au/78451/1/Lupton_ACCESS_Nov_2014_2pg.pdf
Mattson, K. (2017). The Librarian as an Instructional Partner. The Art of Teaching - Inspired Ideas. McGraw Hill Education. Retrieved from https://medium.com/inspired-ideas-prek-12/the-librarian-as-an-instructional-partner-38b2d374bbec#.f43da58p5
Maybee, C., (2015). Preparing Today’s Learners: The Role of Information Literacy in the Adoption of Innovative Pedagogies.
Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations. Paper 92. University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.
http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/lib_fspres/92
MCEETYA. (2008). Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Melbourne. Retrieved from: http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf
McGrew, S. (2016). Why Students Can't Google Their Way to the Truth. Education Week. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/11/02/why-students-cant-google-their-way-to.html?cmp=eml-enl-eu-news2-RM
NSW Department of Education. (2005). Library Policy - Schools. Retrieved from:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/library-policy-schools
O’Connell, J. (2012). So you think they can learn? Scan, 31(2) 5-11.
OECD (2011), Pisa 2009 Results: Students online: Digital Technologies and Performance, (Volume VI). Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Retrieved from: http://www.ecdl.org/media/PISA_2009_Results.pdf
Purcell, M. (2010). All Librarians Do Is Check out Books, Right? A Look at the Roles of a School Library Media Specialist. Library Media Connection, 29(3), 30-33.
Rytivaara, A., & Kershner, R. (2012). Co-teaching as a context for teachers’ professional learning and joint knowledge construction. Teaching and Teacher Education, 28(7), 999-1008.
Toner, G. (2011). An introduction to the Australian Curriculum. Connections, 76(Term 1). SCIS. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/an_introduction_to_the_australian_curriculum.html
Unesco. (2016). Five laws of media and information literacy. Unesco. Retrieved from
http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/Events/mil_five_laws_english.png
Watanabe-Crockett, L. (2018). 10 Essential Self-Directed Learning Questions Every Learner Can Use. Retrieved from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/10-self-directed-learning-questions?mc_cid=eacef513ce&mc_eid=20271ee80d
Watanabe-Crocket, L. (2016). 9 important lifelong learning skills for beyond school. Global Digital Citizenship Foundation. Retrieved from https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/9-important-lifelong-learning-skills
Watanabe-Crocket, L. (2016). 10 strategies or enabling lifelong learners in your classrooms. Global Digital Citizenship Foundation. Retrieved from
https://globaldigitalcitizen.org/10-strategies-enabling-lifelong-learners
Weisburg, H. (2017). On libraries: Fake News and the Teachable Moment. HildaWeisburg.com. Retrieved from https://hildakweisburg.com/2017/01/17/on-libraries-fake-news-and-the-teachable-moment/
Image Credits
ACARA. (2016). General capabilities - The Australian Curriculum. Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority. Retrieved from http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/generalcapabilities/overview/introduction
Jarrett J. Krosoczka. (n.d.). BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017, from BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/jarrett_j_krosoczka.html
Valenza, J. (2009). What do TLs Teach. Poster. Licenced under Creative Commons CC BY-NC 2.0. Retrieved from:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78154370@N00/5761280491/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Weir, R. (2016). Information Literacy is more than just a set of skills!. The Reflective Word. Retrieved from http://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/rweir/2015/05/06/information-literacy-is-more-than-just-a-set-of-skills/
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