The document outlines an information literacy skills unit that is part of a communication skills course for first year university students. The unit aims to teach students skills for identifying information needs, finding and evaluating information sources, and using information ethically. Topics covered include navigating libraries and online resources, developing search strategies, and citing sources properly.
The document outlines an information literacy skills unit that is part of a communication skills course for first year university students. The unit aims to teach students skills for identifying information needs, finding and evaluating information sources, and using information ethically. Topics covered include navigating libraries and online resources, developing search strategies, and citing sources properly.
The document outlines an information literacy skills unit that is part of a communication skills course for first year university students. The unit aims to teach students skills for identifying information needs, finding and evaluating information sources, and using information ethically. Topics covered include navigating libraries and online resources, developing search strategies, and citing sources properly.
The document outlines an information literacy skills unit that is part of a communication skills course for first year university students. The unit aims to teach students skills for identifying information needs, finding and evaluating information sources, and using information ethically. Topics covered include navigating libraries and online resources, developing search strategies, and citing sources properly.
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CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
INSTITUTE OF LIFELONG LEARNING
CENTRE FOR LANGUAGES AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES. Communication Skills Course (CUACE 101) Information Literacy Skills Unit Course Outline
1. INTRODUCTION The Information Literacy Skills Unit is a fully integrated component of the Communication Skills Module offered to all Part 1, Semester 1 students in the Centre for Languages and Communication Studies at Chinhoyi University of Technology.
2. UNIT DESCRIPTION The exponential growth of information and the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in today’s information society makes it imperative to be information literate in order to be fully functional in any undertaking. Information literacy (IL) relates to the ability to recognize an information need and to identify, locate, evaluate and use information effectively. It is a prerequisite for successful student centred and research led learning and it helps students in lifelong education and the development of critical thinking, problem solving and decision making skills.
Secondly, COVID 19 has diminished face to face interaction between students and lecturers. Students need skills to navigate the information superhighway in order to comply with the exigencies of the digital environment in which most learning is occurring.
The unit is collaboratively offered with the Library Staff who provide actual practice to the theory of ILS. It .constitutes one topic of the Communication Skills module.
Students’ grasp of the concepts and skills learned will be assessed through an examination at the end of the semester, whereby one question out of the 7 questions in the CUACE 101 examination is ILS centered.
3. HIGH LEVEL OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this unit is to empower students to be lifelong learners, with skills and competencies that will enable them to exploit the ever expanding range of information resources within and outside the Library , for formal learning requirements and lifelong learning.
The internet is a breeding ground for massive information which can lead to information overload. This unit will ensure that students are imparted with skills to sift useful information from irrelevant information.
1 4. LOW LEVEL OBJECTIVES The objectives of this unit are to explore the four tenets of ILS which are 1. The ability to identify an information need 2. The ability to identify information sources to answer an information need 3. The ability to evaluate the information sources 4. The ability to use information in an ethical manner.
5. LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this course students should be able to: Understand the role of information literacy in the academic environment and in lifelong learning Understand the purpose of the library and how to use it Recognise an information need Identify the information sources to address the need Devise search strategies to locate and access the information efficiently and effectively Effectively search the internet Evaluate information sources Organise and integrate information into existing knowledge ethically
6. COURSE TOPICS
Introduction to Information Literacy Skills (ILS)
Definition of Information Literacy PRINCIPLE 1 : HOW TO IDENTIFY AN INFORMATION NEED Information gap PRINCIPLE 2: HOW TO IDENTIFY INFORMATION SOURCES Organisation of information Informal sources of information Formal/ Authoritative sources of information Format – the medium in which the information is presented. Paper/Print/ Hardcopy Audio( audio cassettes, cds) Visual (digital video disks,images, pictures,sculptures,charts,video cassettes) Audio visual ( DVD, slide tapes) Microform/ microfilm Digital/ Electronic ( computer hard drive, external drive, memory stick / flash stick (USB) Content Subject of information in an item - predominant method of organizing information Characteristics of information in an item Information could be: Primary Secondary Factual Analytical Subjective Objective
2 Information Institutions Archives Museums Galleries Libraries The Academic Library .Navigating Library Catalogues/ OPAC Navigating the Internet, CUT website and Library portal Using Online Search Engines E-resources Open Access Resources/ Institutional Repository Developing a Search Strategy Boolean Operators Truncation Wild cards Proximity Operators Field Searching Phrase searching
Evaluating search results
Expanding a search Narrowing a search PRINCIPLE 3 :EVALUATING INFORMATION RESOURCES Criteria for evaluation Authority Accuracy Organisation/ Technical considerations Currency/ Up to dateness Coverage
PRINCIPLE 4: USING INFORMATION IN AN ETHICAL MANNER
Citation and Referencing
The concept of citation and referencing Self expression versus cutting and pasting Using references as support, not substitution Referencing systems The APPA referencing style Citing books, periodicals and other hardcopy sources Citing electronic/online sources & other media Effective quoting and citing Effective paraphrasing and citing Compiling reference lists and bibliographies Electronic referencing tools: shortcuts for citing Plagiarism and the penalties; submitting essays via anti-plagiarism software
7.0. TEACHING/ LEARNING APPROACHES
Lectures Videos
3 Power Point Presentations Handouts
8.0 ASSESSMENT One question in the Communication Skills Module (CUACE 101) examination at the end of the semester will be devoted to the ILS unit. 9.0 CONCLUSION It is envisaged that the ILS training unit will impart invaluable information literacy skills to enable students to use information in a variety of situations for formal and lifelong learning, problem solving and decision making.
References 1.Communication Skills Course Outline: Bulawayo: National University of Science and Technology, 2014 2. University of Zimbabwe Library: Information Literacy Skills Training Module: Harare: University of Zimbabwe, 2008 3.What is the difference between course objectives and learning objectives? Retrieved From https://provost.asu.edu/sites/default/files/page15---
4. Digital Libraries: dynamic storehouse of digitized information /edited by N.M.
Malwad et al. New Delhi:New Age International , 2009
5. Printed Reference Material – 2nd ed./edited by G.L. Higgens. London:Library
