Resources for Information Literacy Courses

Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." (American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report. Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.

Assistance Provided by the University Libraries

• Librarians who can advise and teach a variety of information tools and key concepts
  • User Education at the University Libraries Fact Sheet

• Guides and handouts that can be used with students
  • Many available on the User Education web page

  • Even more available in print format in the 3 libraries

Information Literacy Tutorials

Students can do the following tutorials at their own pace. When finished, they can have confirmation sent to verify that they completed the tutorial.

• TILT (Texas Information Literacy Tutorial)

  This interactive tutorial was developed by librarians at the University of Texas system and customized for students at the University at Albany. It contains three modules on selecting sources, determining when to use the web and when to use a library, popular vs. scholarly periodicals, using periodical indexes and databases, finding books, plagiarism, and evaluating information sources. Each module ends with a quiz, and quiz results can be printed or e-mailed to the course instructor. There is also a short unit on Internet misconceptions. The whole site is extremely well-designed and attractive to students.

• University at Albany Library Tutorials

  Interactive:

  Each of the tutorials in the Generic category requires students to answer questions to demonstrate learning as they proceed through the lesson. At the end, they can identify themselves and their instructors, and the information will be sent to the Coordinator of User Education Programs. She can keep a tally of your students' responses, and send them to you shortly after your deadline for completion of the tutorial. Click here to register for this service.

  Generic

• Researching 101

  A guide to information formats, searching the library's online catalog, and effectively searching article databases. Takes approximately 25-40 minutes to complete.

• Evaluating Internet Sites 101

  A tutorial developed to help users evaluate Internet sites. Takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete.

• Plagiarism 101

  Helps students to understand what plagiarism is, with strategies for avoiding it. Includes a brief writing assignment that can be used to initiate in-class discussion. Takes 20-30 minutes to complete, not including the writing assignment.

• University Library Virtual Tour

  A tour of the University Library. This covers the physical layout of the library and describes the many resources and services available to students, faculty and staff. Takes approximately 25-35 minutes to complete.

  Discipline-Related

• Criminal Justice Research A Self-Paced Tutorial.

  This tutorial includes a number of modules to teach students effective information seeking skills in criminal justice. Time to complete depends on modules selected.

Additional Information on Information Literacy

• University at Albany Information Literacy Courses--Description and Criteria

• Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education

  A set of standards to help assess student progress toward information literacy.

  For more information, contact Trudi Jacobson, Coordinator of User Education Programs
  (tjacobson@uamail.albany.edu, 518/442-3581)

  

  ---

  04/2007
  This page is maintained by Trudi Jacobson
  Comments to tjacobson@uamail.albany.edu