Information Literacy at Swansea Carwen Earles (School of Health Science) & Michele Davies (Library & Information Services)

What is Information Literacy?

How it began… Dec 2006 – Director of Library & Information Services (LIS) asked the LIS Teaching Group to write an Information Literacy strategy. April 2007 – draft strategy finished after much consultation and participation between LIS subject teams, Careers etc.. June 2007 – passed by the Universitys Learning and Teaching committee as part of the L & T strategy.

Why Information Literacy is important to Swansea Equips students with the skills needed to search, retrieve and evaluate information for their academic work. To support SUs Learning & Teaching strategy. To develop research PG students. Aids student retention. To meet the requirements of educational bodies in the UK. To develop lifelong learning skills. To ensure employability in a knowledge economy.

Why now? Provision of IL has been a focus of LIS for many years (user education or information skills) What has changed? Increase in numbers of overseas students (different educational and cultural backgrounds.) Increase in usage of internet information – the google generation and ease of copyn paste (plagiarism). Complexity of range of electronic sources.

How do we achieve the goal of making every student information literate? by making IL sessions timely and relevant. by embedding IL in the curriculum. by developing teaching skills of LIS subject librarians. by research use of online delivery to support face-to-face sessions

Achieving our goals Were addressing the first two goals by reviewing provision of IL in schools by meeting with key school contacts. Embedding IL in the curriculum Timeliness of provision Content on Blackboard as back-up – online tutorials, guides, links to web resources

Achieving our goals… Developing the quality of our teaching: by peer review by attendance at LILAC (WHELF sponsored places) & feedback. by provision through the LIS staff development programme of external input (visiting speakers). This has boosted discussion and understanding of issues involved.

Achieving our goals… By Research: LIS-led focus groups for researchers to assess their needs. By collaboration with PG Research Training Officer over the Research Readiness Self-Assessment tool (customization of a tool developed by Central Michigan University)

Achieving our goals By innovation Use of an Audience Response System during IL sessions. Development of online IL support through Blackboard (generic LIS Bite-size & subject specific provision through modules for students and researchers). Using Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs to engage students through reflection.

What next? improve methods of evaluation. improve methods of informal and formal assessment. experiment with inquiry-based learning.

Evidence based practice in the School of Health Science Evidence based practice requires that decisions about health care are based upon the best available current, valid and relevant evidence. These decisions should be made by those receiving care, informed by the tacit and explicit knowledge of those providing care, within the context of available resources. Martin Dawes et al(2005).

Pre-registration undergraduate degree in Nursing Close working between the library and the School of Health Science. Library skills written into the curriculum are mandatory. Seven sessions spread over three year period Sessions concentrate on what knowledge is needed, how to get the knowledge and evaluating the knowledge for use.

Blackboard Blackboard is a virtual learning environment. Means of support in information literacy. Library links, library teaching sessions and supporting literature can be found here. Can be utilised through medium of Welsh or English.

Example: eWard This is an interactive multimedia learning package. Links from Blackboard website. Simulation of a virtual ward. Includes knowledge acquisition, evaluating knowledge found, to ensure the development of skills re planning care, problem solving and clinical decision making.

References Dawes, M. et al (2005) Sicily statement on evidence-based practice, BMC Medical Education, 5 (1). [Online at SCONUL Information Skills Task Force (1999) Seven pillars of information literacy model, Society of College, National & University Libraries. [Online at ] Swansea University (2007) Information Literacy strategy, [Online at ] University College London (UCL) CIBER Group (2008) Information behaviour of the researcher of the future, UCL. [Online at