Survey on Scottish framework

A final Crawford/Irving related posting. The piloting period for the Draft National Information Literacy Framework (Scotland) has finished and they need people to carry out an evaluation. If you have read the framework they would like you to fill out the online survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/
s.aspx?sm=3DDU1t1AOp2_2fp_2bf57vZOh9ZA_3d_3d There are 10 questions. No personal details are requested, just the sector respondent belongs to and whether they are a project partner. The survey is open until the 31 May 2008.
Photo by Sheila Webber: Princes' Square, Glasgow, May 2008.

IL in Scotland update

John Crawford has recently announced that "the Scottish Information Literacy Project has been funding by Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to undertake a project entitled: Adding value to LTS Information Literacy Online Service: Exemplars of good practice. The proposal aims to identify exemplars of good practice within the cross curricular area of information literacy for dissemination through the LTS Online Service which offers an important mechanism to keep education authority and school staff informed and supported. The Scottish Information Literacy Project will work with three partners, North Lanarkshire Council, Education Resource Service; Information and Learning Resources, City of Edinburgh Council and North Ayrshire Education Resources Service to identify exemplars of good practice in information searching in schools which will be matched against the National Information Literacy Framework standards being developed; a copy of which will be made available to LTS for publication as part of the information literacy section of the LTS Online Service" The project website is at: http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/ils/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Rocks at Sandycove, February 2008.

Scottish Framework

John Crawford writes "I am pleased to announce that the Scottish Information Literacy Project has secured funding from Eduserv to pilot the draft National Information Literacy Framework Scotland with our Project partners. As part of the funding Eduserv would like there to be an emphasis on looking at the impact which the Framework is having on practice / affecting what is happening in educational institutions. ... A new webpage has been added to the project website http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/ils/frameworkpilot.html - this outlines the specific activities and outcomes we are working to within the piloting exercise."
It is worth noting that Eduserv also hosts the Information Literacy website http://www.informationliteracy.co.uk/ (maintained by the CILIP information literacy group), funded a couple of small scale information literacy and they have donated prizes to my Department for the best information literacy dissertations and topics. Also, of course, they are hosts to the Centre for Information Literacy Research in Second Life.

Photo by Sheila Webber: Autumn 2004

Some recent articles

Free on the web:
Hughes, Hilary E. and Bruce, Christine S. and Edwards, Sylvia L. (2007) "Models for reflection and learning: a culturally inclusive response to the infomation literacy imbalance." In: Andretta, S, (Eds) Change and challenge: Information literacy for the 21st century, pp. 59-84. Adelaide: Auslib Press. Available from QUT e-print archive: http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00007038/

Irving, C. and Crawford, J. (2007) "Information literacy: a framework for life." Library and information update, 6 (7). (Discusses Scottish Framework and the background to it) http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/
updatemagazine/archive/archive2007/
july/Irving%20and%20Crawford.htm

Priced:
Bombaro, C. (2007) "Using audience response technology to teach academic integrity: 'The seven deadly sins of plagiarism' at Dickinson College." Reference Services Review, 35 (2), 296-309. "This paper seeks to explore the successes and challenges associated with teaching first-year students a session on plagiarism avoidance through the use of an audience response system."

Emmett, A. and Emde, J. (2007) "Assessing information literacy skills using the ACRL standards as a guide." Reference Services Review, 35 (2), 210 - 229. "The purpose of this study is to obtain preliminary evidence over a three-year period on the efficacy of a curriculum designed to foster information literacy skills in graduate students in a chemistry bibliography course."

Mizrachi, D. and Bedoya, J. (2007) "LITE Bites: broadcasting bite-sized library instruction." Reference Services Review, 35 (2), 249 - 256. "This paper sets out to describe a successful collaboration between the UCLA Library and a campus-based student television production team to create and broadcast a series of short library commercials."

Photos by Sheila Webber: Top photo - trying to pick cherries from top of tree through the bedroom window; 2nd photo - the tree, before the pesky birds ate most of the cherries.

Meeting on draft Scottish IL framework

Things move apace in Scotland. Following the announcement of the draft information literacy Framework for Scotland a couple of weeks ago, an open meeting has been scheduled on 23 May, 2pm to 4.30pm in A 313, Govan Mbeki Building, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, to explain the Framework. A copy of the draft framework is available from http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/ils/framework.html

Photo by Sheila Webber: Blossom in Weston Park, Sheffield, April 2007 (includes falling white blossom)

Public library standards & resource for 9-18 learners

Some of this is rather Old News which I meant to post this some time ago. The new news is that new public library quality standards for public libraries in Scotland have been published. The document is:
Scottish Executive & Scottish Library and Information Council. (2007) Building on success: a public library quality improvement matrix for Scotland. SLIC. http://www.slainte.org.uk/files/
pdf/slic/plqim/plqim2.pdf
The "quality indicators" are: Access to information; Community and personal participation; Meeting readers’ needs; Learners’ experiences; Ethos and values; Organisation and use of resources and space; Leadership. Helping people develop information literacy is mentioned under "access".

The older news is that in January Learning and Teaching Scotland launched a resource for pupils aged 9-18. It contains learning objects, plus notes for teachers which includes pedagogical rationale underlying the materials. In fact this material was delivered to L&T Scotland a while ago, I think, as it is a project in which Bill Johnston was involved (there is a research report,
Information literacy and study skills: an overview of research for LT Scotland, from him and Tony Anderson, also from Strathclyde University, on the website). http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/informationliteracy/index.asp

Photo by Sheila Webber: Water feature, Sheffield Station, April 2007.

National Information Literacy Framework Scotland

John Crawford announced last week that the first draft of the National Information Literacy Framework Scotland is available from http://www.caledonian.ac.uk/ils/
framework.html

"This draft framework is being developed with secondary and tertiary partners using SCQF (Scottish Credit Qualification Framework) aims, structure and key features and existing frameworks and models. The Framework lists information literacy skill levels for all SCQF levels from access (School) through to PhD. We are also looking at applying it to the workplace and the wider community. There is an introduction explaining what information literacy is and how it can be used. You can also look at the skills appropriate to each level. An evaluation exercise of the draft framework is being carried out which involves the project partners from different sectors, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals' Information Literacy group, relevant professional bodies and email discussion lists. Project partners will pilot the draft framework in the 2007/2008 academic year; this piloting will provide exemplars which will be included in the framework of how the skills, knowledge and understanding at different levels can be mapped into specific subjects or course design. Comments and expressions of interest will be welcome."

Photo by Sheila Webber: Blossom in Weston Park, Sheffield, April 2007.

Items in Update

A few items in the latest Update (magazine of the UK's CILIP) , March 2007

Crawford, John and Irving, C. (2007) "IL and the petition to the Scottish Parliament" Library and information update, 6 (3), 40-41. It is also available online.
Allen, P. (2007) "Developing the best blend? From blended e-learning to blended learning." Library and information update, 6 (3), 26-28. It is also available online

Only available in print: Godwin, P. (2007) "Information literacy and the internet generation." Library and information update, 6 (3), 36-39.

There is also a news snippet on page 3 (thanks to James O'Brien for alerting me to this) "Schhools breakthrough" saying that "CILIP's Information Literacy Group has persuaded the DfES (Department for Education and Skills) that the school curriculum in England needs to incorporate effecrive information literacy training when changes are made in 2008-9". This is not absolutely definite, but things look more hopeful than they did before the CILIP group had its meeting with the DfES.

Photo by Sheila Webber: Geneva University library, entrance hall, February 2007 (I was there for an IFLA Management & Marketing Section meeting)

The Scottish Information Literacy Project

The Project Information literacy: the link between secondary and tertiary education is now The Scottish Information Literacy Project: working with partners to create an information literate Scotland. "The project was originally set up to devise an information literacy framework linking secondary and tertiary education, the (Scottish) National Information Literacy Framework. The first draft of this is now almost complete and it is hoped to pilot it with partners in academic year 2007-8. The Project has now expanded to include the role of information literacy in the employability and workplace agendas, in lifelong learning, in continuing professional development and the adult literacies agenda. Advocacy workhas also been undertaken including a petition to the Scottish Parliament. Project funders include Eduserv and Learning and Teaching Scotland." The website is at http://www.gcal.ac.uk/ils/

Photo by Sheila Webber: Sheffield morning, Feb 2007.

Lifelong learning in Scotland

A consultation exercise is taking place in Scotland on lifelong learning. Themes covered include: Engagement with Employers; Flexible Learning Opportunities, Entitlement and Discretionary Support; Information, Advice and Guidance; Community Learning and Development; Journeys into and through Learning. There are some questions suggested, but comments outside these questions are welcomed. The closing date for responses is 12 February 2007.
Lifelong Learning - Building on Success: a discussion of specific issues related to Lifelong Learning in Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/11/06141044/10

Photo by Sheila Webber: Jemima Puddleduck and friends, Lake Windemere, Jan 2007.