Information Literacy: Standards and Learning Outcomes

An information fluent student is able to find, evaluate, synthesize, create, and communicate information in all its forms. The skills a student acquires should transfer from project, course, or situation to another and create a foundation for life-long learning.

Our Instructional Goals

• To provide information fluency support for all students
• To integrate information fluency skills into the curriculum
• To ensure that all Benedictine University students have the opportunity to gain information fluency skills before they graduate
• To build a support network for instructors at Benedictine University 

The Library offers instruction sessions upon request to all students, instructors and staff of Benedictine University.

Scope

Information Fluency Issues Addressed in Each Instruction Session

• What kind of information to you need?
• Where will you find it?
• Once you find it, how will you evaluate it so that you are certain that is it accurate and appropriate to your research task?
• How will you cite the information you choose to include in your final project?

The Benedictine Library has adopted the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education to guide and inform the information fluency skills developed in our Library Instruction Program.

These standards identify that the information literate person:

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 accesses and uses information ethically and legally.

Source: Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)