ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education Why, Who, What? A Brief Overview Celita DeArmond, UTSA Library

ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards: Why? Information literacy = requires individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” Higher education move towards developing lifelong self-directed learners – Boyer Commission Report (1998): Reinventing Undergraduate Education = student centered, inquiry based Framework needed for assessing the information literate individual

ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards: Who? ACRL Task Force on Information Literacy Competency Standards ( ) – Reviewed by ACRL Standards Committee – Approved, ACRL Board of Directors, Jan. 18, 2000 ACRL seeks endorsement and promulgation of standards from professional and accreditation associations in higher education Extension of work from AASL Task Force on Information Literacy Standards (K-12) – Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning

ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards: What? 5 standards: The information literate student… 1) determines the nature and extent of the information needed. 2) accesses needed information effectively and efficiently. 3) evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system. 4) uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose. 5) understands many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and uses information ethically and legally. 22 performance indicators Includes outcomes for each performance indicator

ACRL’s Information Literacy Competency Standards: example Standard Two – The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently Performance Indicator 2. – The information literate student constructs and implements effectively-designed search strategies Outcomes Include: – a. Develops a research plan appropriate to the investigative method – b. Identifies keywords, synonyms and related terms for the information needed – c. Selects controlled vocabulary specific to the discipline or information retrieval source – d., e., f. (cont.)

Booklet available from ACRL Back