Redefining Information Literacy...Part 1

After reading some of the literacy research (including J.P. Gee) I started questioning the information literacy literature. I'm exploring these thoughts by continuing my reading and applying common literacy definitions to information literacy.

Here are my initial thoughts...I'll post part 2 tomorrow and then post regular updates on my progress.

Librarians (especially academic librarians) are interested and in many cases heavily invested in the notion of information literacy. Academic librarians are surrounded by the term information literacy, but much of the existing literature and practice focuses on information literacy as a set of skills or competencies to be learned and mastered. The current working view of information literacy (as used by the Association of College and Research Libraries) takes a narrow view of the term literacy.

I seek to review the literacy literature and explore answers to the following questions:
Can information literacy actually be considered a “literacy” as defined by Gee and other literacy scholars because it is lacking key components (primarily the social aspects of literacy)?
How do multiliteracies (especially media and digital literacies) fit in with information literacy?

In my opinion the current narrow view of information literacy should be expanded to include socio-cultural aspects and elements of the other “new literacies” (visual literacy, ICT literacy, and digital literacies). Expanding the scope of information literacy will not only provide a more complete and academically rigorous definition, it will provide librarians with a more effective platform for instruction.

Revivals

I know that I have posted in a while...okay, a really long time. I am reviving this blog in order to discuss interesting items in library/information science, literacy, instructional design, and distance education AND to chronicle my progress through UF's Educational Technology EdD program.
Stay tuned for my first content based post on redefining information literacy...

Multiple Literacies

Blog Topics
For the remainder of this class I'll be blogging about various literacies -- media, visual, and information literacy. I'm currently working on a paper about incorporating visual literacy and visual learning in library instruction. As I find good resources, articles, etc. I'll discuss them on my blog.

Today's Article -- Expanding the Concept of Literacy
Daley, E. (2003). Expanding the concept of literacy. EDUCAUSE Review, 38(2), 32-40.

Daley comments on how technology is changing the traditional (if erroneous) definition of literacy from print based reading and writing to include a variety of concepts and competencies.
She lists 4 main arguments for this expanded definition of literacy:

1. ubiquitous nature of multimedia screen language
2. multimedia screen language can construct complex meanings without text
3. The types of communication and collaboration possible with multimedia screen language are very different from those possible in a text only environment
4. Truly literate people will be able to communicate in the multimedia language of the screen

Key Points:

• Most general education curricula do not include basic knowledge of media communications
• Educators need to look beyond a print only basis for communication and understand that media communication is here to stay

What are your thoughts and or experiences with incorporating various literacies into instruction? Can higher education learn from K-12 education regarding a more holistic, incorporated view of literacy?