Embedded Librarians: Developing Information Literate Students from the Inside Kelli Johnson, Staff Librarian Marshall University and Jennifer Sias, Associate Professor, Director of Research, Information Literacy and Instructional Services Marshall University

Information Literacy What is it? -According to the American Library Association, information literacy is the ability to know what information you need and then access, evaluate and use that information ethically and effectively.

President Obama recognizes the importance of and need for information literacy: Proclamation-National-Information-Literacy-Awareness- Month/ Proclamation-National-Information-Literacy-Awareness- Month/

Information Literacy Background – Librarians have been discussing information literacy since the 1980’s – Research has been conducted in a variety of settings (colleges and universities, workplaces) and looking at a variety of professions (students, firefighters, nurses) – Developing information literacy leads to becoming a lifelong learner (one of the goals of higher education)

Information Literacy Background, cont. – Accrediting agencies are requesting information literacy assessment data – Marshall University Libraries have answered the call: SAILS: – iSkills: – Results.ppt Results.ppt –

Information Literacy Standards (with examples!) The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed. The information literate student accesses needed information effectively and efficiently. The information literate student evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system.

Information Literacy Standards (with examples!) The information literate student, individually or as a member of a group, uses information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose. The information literate student understands many of the economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information and accesses and uses information ethically and legally. “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.” Association of College and Research Libraries,. [October 8, 2009]

Embedded Librarians Embedded journalists go to war; embedded librarians go to class! Embedded librarian project examples: – MCTC courses: Prof. Nedra Lowe and Dr. Donna Donathan – JMC courses: Prof. Sandy Savage, Prof. Rob Rabe, Prof. Allyson Goodman – Communication Studies: Dr. Cam Brammer and Dr. Susan Gilpin – Political Science: Dr. Cheryl Brown

Dr. Donna Donathan LAS 280: Legal Research and Writing Brainstorming and Clustering/Mapping Activity Standard One: The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the information needed. Research Inventory

Which source is best? Information Literacy Activity BOOKMAGAZINE ARTICLE REFERENCE BOOKNEWSPAPER ARTICLE SCHOLARLY JOURNAL ARTICLEINTERNET/WEBSITE

Conclusion According to Andrew Keen, author of The Cult of the Amateur, “we’re increasingly creating a media-illiterate society” that believe and trust what they read on the Internet; they don’t realize they’re ill-informed in many cases. According to research by University of Illinois professor Steve Jones, this wired generation does NOT use multiple sources to corroborate information unless a teacher explicitly requires it. Beyond the classroom, we want our students to be informed, critical- thinking citizens, right? We want to support lifelong learning, don’t we? What can we do? Promote and participate in information literacy efforts. Everyone has a role and responsibility to play in advancing our students’ information literacy: librarians, teaching faculty and administrators. Clemmitt, Marcia. “Internet Accuracy.” CQ Researcher 1 Aug. 2008:

RESOURCES “Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.” Association of College and Research Libraries,. [October 8, 2009] SAILS (assessment): iSkills (assessment): – Sophos, Patty "Information Literacy at Community Colleges." Community College Journal of Research and Practice 27.8 (2003): ERIC. EBSCO. Web. 12 Oct