Thursday, January 31, 2013

Articles on information use in schools and perspectives on Il

The latest issue of Humanit has been completed with a couple of extra articles. I blogged last year that there were a few relevant articles in this open-access journal from the Högskolan i Borås in Sweden. Now another two have been added:
- Louise Limberg, Olof Sundin and Sanna Talja: Three Theoretical Perspectives on Information Literacy
- Mikael Alexandersson and Louise Limberg: Changing Conditions for Information Use and Learning in Swedish Schools: A Synthesis of Research
http://etjanst.hb.se/bhs/ith/2-11/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Winter trees at dusk, Hellingly, January 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

From information obesity to digital dieting

I don't always agree with Tara Brabazon 100% (e.g. if I was as organised an information manager as she advocates I probably never would have followed the thread that led to my encountering her article...) but her writings and talks are always thought-provoking. She recently published:
Brabazon, T. (2012) Time for a digital detox? From information obesity to digital dieting. Fast capitalism, 9(1). http://www.uta.edu/huma/agger/fastcapitalism/9_1/brabazon9_1.html
Other articles in this issue (Fast Capitalism, volume 9 issue 1) include:
- They Blog, Therefore They Think: Composition 2.0 and Blogging toward Democracy, by Lorie Jacobs ("Rather than contributing to the demise of academic reason, in my view, the rise of social media signals a transition to a post-consumerist salon culture of discussion and collaboration in a true public sphere. ... By embracing the potential of social media within academic contexts, specifically first-year composition, we have the opportunity to shape new media and consciously engage students as emerging public intellectuals.")
- In Video Games we Trust: High-Speed Sociality in the 21st Century, by Graham Candy.
Photo by Sheila Webber: Winter branches at dusk, Hellingly, January 2013

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Born digital: time for a rethink

Another slideshare presentation from Karen Blakeman: Born digital: time for a rethink, presented yesterday at the NetIKX workshop "Digital native or Digital immigrant - does it matter". Obviously as it's a powerpoint you have to imagine some of the material (it probably helps that I'm about the same age as Karen, so I recognise punch cards and that green-lined computer paper!) However, the key point about questioning the "digital native" rhetoric is clear, and there are interesting points and links.

Monday, January 28, 2013

The Consumer Experience 2012: internet and telecoms

Ofcom produces a very useful annual report on the "[UK] consumer experience of telecoms, the internet, digital broadcasting and now postal services". Ofcom is the official British "watchdog" for consumers of telecoms etc. and their report uses large, robust population samples and has a lot of detail. The 2012 edition was published recently and some details include (from p13)
"Text messages are the most-used method for daily communication with friends and family. Around six in ten (58%) consumers said they use text message at least once a day to communicate with friends and family. This is higher than those who stated they communicate face-to-face (49%). Overall, two thirds (68%) of adults used any text based service compared to 63% using any voice based service.""Ownership of connected devices continues to rise – driven by the growth in both smartphone and tablet take-up. In total 82% of adults own at least one internet connected device. Among these devices the most significant increases since 2011 have been in ownership of smartphones (45% vs. 34%) and tablets (12% vs. 4%)."
"Just under a quarter of UK consumers access TV content online. Twenty-three per cent of internet users claimed to access TV content over the internet every week, this increases to 42% when asked whether they had ever accessed TV content over the internet."
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/consumer-experience/tce-12/Consumer_Experience_Researc1.pdf
Photo by Sheila Webber: Five in a line in the snow, Sheffield, January 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Digital and Information Literacy Framework

The Open University Information Literacy Unit has developed a Digital and Information Literacy Framework. It identifies five skill areas: Understand and engage in digital practices; Find information; Critically evaluate information, online interactions and online tools; Manage and communicate information; and Collaborate and share digital content. It also looks at these skills across 5 levels of study (0, 1, 2, 3 and Masters). There is a companion website with short activities to address the various skills: Being Digital at http://www.open.ac.uk/libraryservices/beingdigital/. This includes a self-assessment checklist. Thankd to Anthony Beal's Scoop-it for reminding me about this. I was sure I had blogged it when it went up recently, but I think that I must have just started drafting something, meaning to explore it later ;-( Anyway, an interesting framework to consider and some useful short activities that can be used by anyone.
Photo by Sheila Webber: snowy branches, Sheffield, January 2013

Thursday, January 24, 2013

CILIP Information Literacy and Your Work Survey

The UK's Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals has an online survey asking library and information professional to answer a few questions about the place of information literacy in their work. The survey targets people working outside the education sector.

The questions (apart from demographic questions) are: Do you have a good understanding of information literacy? Is information literacy a key part of your current role? If not should it be? My employer recognises the importance of information literacy to their organisation (disagree-agree); My employer recognises my role in supporting information literacy (disagree-agree) If you work alongside other professionals, are you encouraged to help them develop and improve their information literacy skills? (by other professionals we mean, for example, lawyers, doctors, clinicians etc.) How do you think CILIP should be supporting the Information Literacy agenda?

By implication this seems to be aimed at UK librarians. I will add more info when I discover it (I couldn't find anything on the CILIP website! I came across the link via here)
The survey closes on 11 February and is at http://fs3.formsite.com/cilip/form187/index.html
Photo by Sheila Webber: Enjoying the snow, Sheffield, January 2013

Intergenerational Literacies: call for papers extended

The IFLA Literacy and Reading and Information Literacy Sections are seeking proposals for a joint programme to be held at the IFLA Conference in Singapore (17-23 August 2013, the session will be scheduled during the conference): Intergenerational Literacies: texto / techno. The closing date for proposals is now 24 February 2013. "Proposals chosen for presentation will be specific about how libraries and/or associations have tackled issues related to texto and techno literacies in their particular setting, thus developing intergenerational literacies, dialogue, digital inclusion and social cohesion. They should be grounded in theory, research, and/or practical applications. Because these projects will be presented in an informal, small group setting, speakers should plan some visual accompaniment such as a poster that can be set up on the table. Presenters may also want to bring brochures or flyers to hand out. People submitting successful proposals will be asked to write a brief paper summarizing their library programme or project for publication in the IFLA Proceedings. All chosen presenters will be listed in the official Conference programme."
For more information see the conference webpage at http://conference.ifla.org/ifla79/calls-for-papers/intergenerational-literacies-texto-techno
Photo by Sheila Webber: One man and his dog, Sheffield, January 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Call for posters proposals for California Conference on Library Instruction

Call for posters proposals for California Conference on Library Instruction (CCLI) 2013: “Information Literacy in the Real World” to be held April 5, 2013 at San Jose State University Library, USA. "What does information literacy look like beyond the classroom? Critical thinking empowers students to make sound decisions about employment, health, and social justice issues. How do you demonstrate the long term value of information literacy beyond helping students academically? CCLI invites you to share your teaching strategies and technological tools for helping students apply information literacy and critical thinking to their daily lives." Proposals must be submitted by 15 February 2013 at http://cclibinstruction.org/
Photo by Sheila webber: Botanic Gardens, Sheffield, January 2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Second Life Journal club, 23rd January: "Research Papers Have Always Seemed Very Daunting"

What: Journal club: join a one-hour informal discussion of an article on information literacy
When: 23 January 2013 : Journal Club, 12 noon SL time (which is the same as US Pacific time, and 8pm UK time, see http://tinyurl.com/9wtjb43 for times elsewhere)
Where: Infolit iSchool, in the virtual world, Second Life, http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/106/208/30/   You need a Second Life avatar and the SL browser installed, to participate.
Details Marshall Dozier, Edinburgh University (Pancha Enzyme in SL) will lead a discussion of:
Detmering R, Johnson AM. "Research Papers Have Always Seemed Very Daunting": Information Literacy Narratives and the Student Research Experience. Portal: Libraries and the Academy 12.1 (2012): 5-22. Available from: http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/portal_libraries_and_the_academy/v012/12.1.detmering.html

All welcome, just turn up! A Centre for Information Literacy Research event
Photo by Sheila Webber: Firth Court, January 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

cfp extended: Re-defining and refining Information Literacy and Reference Services in the digital age

The call for papers has been extended to 15 February 2013, and the scope also extended, for the Information Literacy Section and  Reference and Information Services Section's conference Re-defining and refining Information Literacy and Reference Services in the digital age to be held August 15-16, 2013, in Singapore, immediately before this year's IFLA conference. There are now some broader information literacy themes. Themes are:
Connections / interconnections between information literacy and reference services such as (but not limited to): Role (integration) of information literacy in reference work; Media literacy, Civic literacy,Transliteracy, Metaliteracy, E-literacy, Digital literacy, Computer literacy, Scientific literacy, Visual literacy or Digital empowerment and reference work

Providing better reference services and improving librarians' information literacy competency e.g.
- Redirecting resources from reference services to user instruction, research assistance and outreach
- Deploying paraprofessionals in informational and instructional services
- Professional competencies of reference and information literacy librarians
- Training of information literacy and reference librarians

Planning strategies for information literacy AND/OR reference services
- Branding, promotion and marketing
- Partnership and collaboration
- Collaborative relationships and strategic integration
- Complementary roles of librarians, teachers and parents

Papers addressing any topic related to information literacy AND/OR reference services from more than one perspective are also welcomed. The scope of the conference includes (see website for all the examples)
- Impacts of technological developments on reference service, information literacy and outreach (e.g. web 2.0 ; web 3.0 ; mobile technologies ; trends, emerging technologies and innovation; growth of digital resources; gaming and application software (apps); digital reference tools; tiered reference services)
- Strategies in e-learning to promote self-directed and sustainable learning in the area of information literacy skills
- Developing effective and innovative information literacy instruction
- Developing information literacy skills for the next generation: the complementary roles of librarians, teachers and parents
- Branding and promotion of information literacy in schools, organizations and communities
- Evaluation of reference services
- Issue of future reference services (e.g. commercial reference services, staff training, work fatigue and stress)
- Artificial intelligence for reference services (e.g. siri)

Paper Submission They accept research reports, smaller scale interactive roundtable discussions, train-the-trainer workshops, pecha kucha and poster sessions.
Proposals must be submitted by February 15, 2013 using the proposal submission form. All proposals must be in before 15 February 2013.
See the Conference website for additional details at: http://infolit.nl.sg/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Dancing snowman, Sheffield, January 2013

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Articles: collaborations in Information Literacy

The latest issue of the San Jose State University SLIS Student Research Journal (Volume 2 issue 2) is open access and has a couple of articles about information literacy:
- Collaboration as an Essential Tool in Information Literacy Education 9-16: Context, Qualities and Implications by Samantha Godbey
- Information Literacy Instruction for Upper-Year Undergraduate Students: A Stratified Course-Integrated Approach by Stacey Nordlund
I also thought this one was interesting:
- Crisis Informatics: Perspectives of Trust – Is Social Media a Mixed Blessing? by Christine Hagar
http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/slissrj/vol2/iss2/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Snowy treetrunk, Botanic Gardens, Sheffield, January 2013.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Students: A Measure of the Effectiveness

New report on the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (Canada) website.
Duncan, A. and Varcoe, J. (2013) Information Literacy Competency Standards for Students: A Measure of the Effectiveness of Information Literacy Initiatives in Higher Education. Toronto: Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario.
"The study examined more than 500 students at Georgian College in the diploma, applied degree, collaborative degree and university undergraduate programs. Using four online surveys over the course of two years, students were asked about their perceptions and attitudes towards information literacy as well as tested for their research and critical analysis skills. The project examined four different models for teaching core skills, including providing specific information literacy courses, embedding information literacy into existing curriculum, online tutorials and non-mandatory tutorials. In addition, faculty were surveyed twice on their perceptions of student information literacy and its importance." "While the overall results showed no single method of delivery to be particularly advantageous, the students who had information literacy training embedded in their course curriculum did show significantly higher ability to accurately cite source material." "Faculty interviews suggested the need to improve their own information literacy awareness and development. Faculty members also commented on the student experience of information literacy skill development and evaluation."
I linked to the home page above. The pdf of the full 60 page report is at http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/InfoLitENG.pdf and there are substantial appendices including the long student survey, questions asked of academics, a framework based on the ACRL standards and other documents at http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/InfoLitAppendicesENG.pdf
Graphic based on a photo by Sheila Webber

First online infolit journal club discussion

You can see the blog-comment discussion that took place in the first Information Literacy online Journal Club yesterday (January 17th) at http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/first-journal-club-discussion-thurs.html. As you can see on that blog, there were interesting threads, and the great thing is that you can still read them and add further comments if you want ;-)
We discussed the 2011 revision of the SCONUL 7 Pillars model of information literacy, available here: http://tinyurl.com/bxdp5sy. The idea is to hold these monthly, so do keep in touch with the Journal Club blog: http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk We will be announcing next month's article shortly.
Picture: Tagxedo of the blog comment page

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Talk: digital and information literacy strategy at Cardiff University

Jane Secker has announced that the next London School of Economics (LSE) NetworkED seminar will be held on Wednesday 6 February at 2.30pm UK time (in London, UK). The presenters are Cathie Jackson, Joe Nicholls and Janet Finlay, talking about the development and implementation of a digital and information literacy strategy at Cardiff University.
If people external to LSE would like to attend in person, they should contact j.secker@lse.ac.uk and she will send joining instructions. They intend to live stream the event: to watch the seminar online visit the event webpage at 2.30pm UK time on Wednesday 6 February (no booking needed; the recording will be mounted after the event). Follow the event in Twitter using #LSENetEd
You can see recordings of the earlier sessions o n the site too: Dr Jane Secker & Dr Emma Coonan "Supporting undergraduate students of the future: developing a new curriculum for information literacy"; Prof John Naughton "What do people really need to know about the Internet."; Prof Martin Weller "10 Digital Scholarship lessons in 10 videos"; David White "I knew that the internet wouldn't give me a wrong answer"; Patrick Dunleavy "The Republic of Blogs - a new phase in the development, democratisation, critique and application of knowledge"; Diana Laurillard; "Teaching as a design science: developing reliable knowledge of learning technology"; Carl Miller "The Literacy Challenge of the digital age"
Go to the website: http://clt.lse.ac.uk/events/networkED-seminar-series-08.php

Photo by Sheila Webber: sun in Hellingly woods, photoshopped, January 2013

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

New online Information Literacy Journal Club: 17th Jan at 8pm UK time!

The first Information Literacy online Journal Club discussion is on Thursday January 17th 2013 and will take place via blog-posts. The live discussion will start at 8pm UK time (which is 3pm US Eastern Time, see http://tinyurl.com/avadgw3 for times elesewhere) and end at 9.15pm. We will be discussing the 2011 revision of the SCONUL 7 Pillars model of information literacy, available here: http://tinyurl.com/bxdp5sy. The 7 Pillars diagram is reproduced on the right (under a Creative Commons license). This is the UK's chief framework for information literacy in Higher/Further Education, and the first edition came out in 1999.

The Journal Club discussion will take place in the comments beneath an introductory blog post on the Journal Club blog: http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/first-journal-club-discussion-thurs.html. You can start adding comments now if you want.
The live discussion hosted by Niamh Tumelty and me (Sheila Webber) will be between 8pm and 9.15pm on 17th January. As facilitators, we will be aiming keep the discussion going and introduce the questions through the session.People can also contribute to the discussion by commenting (on the topic or the format for discussion) after the 17th January.

The idea is to hold these monthly, so do keep in touch with the Journal Club blog: http://infolitjournalclub.blogspot.co.uk
I am also continuing to co-organise the Journal Club meetings in Second Life, by the way.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

New articles

3 articles with online pre-publication (priced journals)
- Kratochvil, I. (2013) "Evaluation of e-learning course Information literacy for medical students", The Electronic Library, 13 (1). Abstract
- Soules, A. et al. (2013) "Embedding information literacy in an MA TESOL program". New Library World 114 (1/2). Abstract
- Thornton, D. and Kaya, E. "All the world wide web's a stage: Improving students’ information skills with dramatic video tutorials." Aslib Proceedings 65 (1). Abstract
Photo by Sheila Webber: Potatoes, St Lawrence Market, Toronto, November 2012

Monday, January 14, 2013

Upcoming deadlines for conference proposals

The deadline for submitting proposals for the i3 conference (to be held 25-28 June 2013 in Aberdeen, Scotland) is 18 January (this Friday): see http://www.i3conference.org.uk/
The deadline for proposals for the 5th International Conference on Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (to be held 4-7 June 2013 at "La Sapienza" University, Rome Italy) has been extended to 30 January: see http://www.isast.org/
Photo by Sheila Webber (photoshopped): Decorated trees, near Angel, London, December 2012

Friday, January 11, 2013

LILAC registration and programme

Registration is open for the LILAC conference, and the draft presentation schedule is also available. The conference takes place March 25-27 March in Manchester, UK. Cost is currently (to 8th Feb) £384 inc VAT @ 20% (includes networking evening and conference dinner) and that is also the regular cost to speakers and CILIP IL Group members.
I will be presenting a paper co-authored with my iSchool colleague Professor Nigel Ford: Collaborating for deep, critical information behaviour (reporting on results of a funded project into information behaviour at the school and early university level) and also a poster Developing profiles for the information literacy professional.
My colleague from Sheffield University Library, Vicky Grant, coauthors a presentation with one of our successful PhD graduates, Liz Brewster: Creative pedagogies and health information literacy: the Storying Sheffield Knowing as Healing Project.
The programme is at http://www.lilacconference.com/WP/programme/parallel-sessions/ and the registration at http://www.lilacconference.com/WP/bookings/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Through the hedgerow, Hellingly, January 2013.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

IL at the Czech Technical University & California State University

The October issue of the new open access journal Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries includes:
- Vera Pilecka and Ludmila Ticha: Improving the information literacy at the Czech Technical University in Prague: support of study and research (pp 155-162)
- Aline Soules: Is It Really on the Web and What Does That Mean for Instruction and Reference? (pp 177-183)[she is based at California State University]
At time of writing the journal website did not seem totally stable: if you can't get the link immediately then try again later. http://www.qqml.net/October_issue.html
Photo by Sheila webber: Winter tree, central London, December 2013

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Survey on librarians in VLEs/ LMS

Beth Tumbleson and John Burke of Miami University Middletown are repeating a survey (carried out in 2011) of academic librarians embedded in virtual learning environments (VLEs)/ learning management systems (LMS). They will post a summary of survey responses to each of the discussion lists they used to announce the survey (I picked this up on the ili list). The survey is at http://tinyurl.com/aregjtw and it closes on January 30 2013. A 2-page summary of the results from the previous survey are at http://www.users.muohio.edu/burkejj/Embedded%20Librarian%20Survey%20Results.pdf
Photo by Sheila webber: Hellingly, January 2013


Tuesday, January 08, 2013

cfp International First Year in Higher Education (Conference

The International First Year in Higher Education (Int FYHE) Conference Organising Committee invites submissions for its 16th International Conference to be held in Wellington, New Zealand 8-10 July 2013. Key conference themes are: Designing and enacting curriculum and pedagogies that engage commencing students in learning; Focusing on assessment and feedback for learning; Promoting access to life and learning support; Fostering a sense of belonging. The submission deadline is 25 January 2013 and the website at http://fyhe.com.au/conference-2013/
Photo by Sheila webber: Ploughed field, Hellingly, January 2013

New libraries section on Pew Internet site

The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project has created a new Libraries page on their website, linking to the reports they think are particularly relevant. It also includes a link to a video of the Center's Director gave on Libraries and Learning Communities last October at the Internet Librarian conference. http://libraries.pewinternet.org/

Friday, January 04, 2013

Webinar: Integrating information literacy into first-year student experience

A priced webinar from Academic Impressions: Integrating Information Literacy into the First Year on March 5, 2013 - 1:00 to 2:45 pm US Eastern Time. Price for the live event (until Feb 26) is $350 (also prices including CD-ROM) "Join us online to hear about how best to embed information literacy into the first-year student experience and how institutions are using these practices successfully. In this webcast, you will learn how to:Utilize librarians in curriculum planning; Create research-based learning outcomes that address information literacy; Develop authentic and engaging research experiences and assignments for first-year students; Foster collaboration between librarians and first-year seminar faculty"More info at
http://www.academicimpressions.com/webcast/integrating-information-literacy-first-year-march-2013
Photo by Sheila webber: Dusk, Hailsham, January 2013

Thursday, January 03, 2013

A Simple Guide To 4 Complex Learning Theories

Thanks to Mark Childs for highlighting (on Facebook, so no link to his post) a chart which identifies some key characteristics of Behaviourism, Cognitivism, Constructionism and Connectivism. It initially had some typos (now corrected) and as Mark and other commenters have pointed out, you could argue about some points, but generally it is a useful short summary (especially if used as a basis for discussion). http://edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/
Photo by Sheila Webber: Walkers, New Year's Day, Hellingly, Jan 2013

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Webinar on Information Literacy Assessment: 22 January

Libraries Thriving brings a (I think, free) webinar on Basics of Information Literacy Assessment, on 22 January 2013, at 8am and 1pm US Eastern Time (so for the UK add 5 hours). The speaker is Lauren Pressley (Wake Forest University; Amanda Click, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
For links to registration go to: http://www.librariesthriving.org/workshops/upcomingseminars
Photo by Sheila Webber: Seasonal decorations at Sadlers Wells Theatre, London, December 2012.