Read on to find out why this is a vital 21st century skill
Team TLT
Information literacy is the ability to identify, find, organise and study information. It’s about using information wisely and communicating effectively.
What is the need for information literacy and why is it a 21st century skill?
In the 21st century, students – and everyone else – are swamped by information coming at them from several sources including mass media such as newspapers and television, social media, through advertising, books and magazines. It’s important to sieve good information from bad. Finding the right information amidst this multitude of sources is harder than ever, not easier. The Internet has made it possible for everyone to put out information and this brings with it problems of credibility, authenticity
and quality.
Technology is changing fast and one has to know how to keep abreast of it. It’s not enough to have the tools but also know how to use them. Today’s employers are looking for such people. They are looking for people with strong analytical skills, critical thinking and problem- solving skills and for someone who is capable and can adapt to the need of the hour.
Evaluating a situation from several perspectives is among the suite of information literacy skills. They help us judge whether the information is coming from reliable sources. They help us determine whether they are facts or not. If the teacher asks for a research-based assignment, the first stop for students is the Internet. Rarely do students go to books for research anymore. Information literacy skills equip students to discern if the information is misleading, outdated or downright false. It helps them filter the data and interpret it intelligently.
Experts say that a child should have a good grasp of information literacy by high school, preparing him or her to continue garnering and adapting skills as needed through the rest of the education and in the workplace.
What is taught in information literacy courses? Students will be taught to define, find and search for information. They need to know where to go to find the data they need. They will be taught how to apply criteria to judge the reliability of sources and identify the factors that make a web resource reliable. They will be taught how to sift information and organise and store that information. The rules of using information – intellectual property, copyright, plagiarism, limits to usage, acknowledging
sources of information – will also be covered. Many think that information on the Internet or even that drawn from other mediums, is free for the taking. It is not.
Information literacy also includes a discussion about computer security and safety. For example, do you know the difference between a URL which has HTTP or HTTPS in the address? (The former is not encrypted, the latter is, so your personal information is safer there.) Do you know how to identify fake and malicious websites or phishing emails whose aim is to make you part with your money? (A tip: Poor grammar and spelling can be one indication, an unbelievable discount can be another.) Knowing
that search engines are biased to show the most recent information information on top, or that the search engine answers your question differently in different regions is an indication that you are information-literate.
