Tech Play 4 - Information Literacy

I chose to explore tools for learning information literacy because I I think this topic is more important that content objects. Teachers can teach without specific content software or apps but information literacy is something that a student will need in order to master lifelong learning.

Google and other Search Engines

Google is the best place to start when I want to find answers. Search engines open up the world of information with unlimited possibilities. However there are so many websites, good and bad, to sift through, one could be overwhelmed or easily misguided. I think students can use Google as a start just to get a feel of what they are looking for and the key words to help refine the search for information.

S.O.S. for Information Literacy – http://www.informationliteracy.org

S.O.S. is a web-based multimedia resources for educators. This website has lesson plans and ideas for teaching information literacy to K-12th grades. I found it through a Google search of information literacy tools for middle school. There are plenty of lesson plans for all components of the Information Literacy graphic for various grade levels.

Internet Detective – http://www.vtstutorials.ac.uk/detective

Internet Detective is a website that is a tutorial about online research skills. The tutorial has guiding questions and opportunities for practice and exploration as well as quizzes. I think that the website site addresses research, critical literacy and information ethics sections of the Information Literacy graphic. The tutorial is very thorough without being too academic about searching the Internet. I think that this site is a valuable tool for students conducting research.

PRIMO – http://primodb.org

PRIMO is a database that promotes and shares peer-reviewed instructional materials created by librarians to teach people about discovering, accessing and evaluating information. PRIMO is from the American Library Association. This database meets all the requirements for information literacy.

Each of the tools I found cover most of the information literacy graphic. They are there to teach literacy in order to critically think and find solutions to educational problems.The tools are very thorough in trying to walk the learner through the different aspects of information literacy. These sources are available to help promote life long learning which first takes place in the classroom. Being a future teacher I need to utilize tools to help future students become self sufficient and comfortable researching and using different types if information.