Using Digital Tools to Increase Literacy Development - Essay Example

Information Literacy al Affiliation Introduction Information literacy as experienced in schools has taken several directions when it comes to its definition. Many take it as a concept while others take it as an ideal to be realized. Information Literacy can be taken as practice or a set of skills/competencies that combines all such kind of attributes (Herring, p. 1). Herring quotes the definition given by Williams that information literacy is a concept used dangerously and ambiguously. Many scholars argue that a good knowledge and understanding of literacy will become realized well if its literacy is combined with information. This essay aims at discussing information literacy with respect to searching and researching topics on the internet, using keywords and tagging, identifying best sources of information and sharing information with others. The assumption is that information literacy involves skills that help a scholar in finding, retrieving, analyzing and using information. Searching and researching topics on the Internet The internet has become the most preferred source of information for most students because of the quantity of information it provides. For example, a search on a topic would bring thousands of sites that have information on that particular information. In other words, the internet provides unlimited information. Thus, students have taken the internet as a definitive source, especially when conducting research. Despite this, little research connects classroom literacy to internet learning. Students have become infatuated with the internet as a learning tool to enhance their information literacy. Students at whatever level of education normally believe that the internet has all the answers they need. With students preferring the internet in searching and researching for information, they lack the ability to differentiate between good and bad sources of information. In fact, the process of separation is so complex that students may become confused. As a result of this, many students blindly accept information they find on the Internet and incorporate it into their research papers. This blindness and the misguided urge to use the internet for research purposes gives a good basis and reason as to why the information literacy skills need to be taught. The skills provide the students with knowledge and assistance that can enable them to efficiently and effectively access information. In addition, acquiring information literacy when it comes researching in the internet enables the students to critically and accurately evaluate and assess the information they research. Thus, in searching and researching the internet, there is a need for students using the internet to question the accuracy of the information as well as its reliability. They should yearn to know the author of the site, as well as his/her qualifications. The most important bit is to establish whether the information in the site reveals a bias or not. Lastly, the students should check when the site was last updated, and the presentation given. The above skills will further create awareness among students using internet for research. They will also be able to develop their critical thinking skills. Furthermore, they will also get to know the limitations of the internet as a research tool. This will also affect the strategies they employ when conducting internet research. Using keywords and tagging When talking about information literacy, tagging allows web users to describe information by freely assigning keywords or tags to them. The tags can be employed through various functions that are flexible enough. Keywords and tags should be those that can help users to find, collect, store, organize and share information. Thus, when students are conducting their research on the internet, they need the knowledge of how to use tagging and keywords. Knowledge of tagging and use of keywords in information literacy will enable students to get a cluster of tags that are attached to the same resource. The students will further be able to find unexpected information and achieve his/her goals. Good skills in a tag and using keywords in research increases one’s chances of getting access points to information resources. Identifying best sources of information Just as it has been discussed, most students like using the internet for their research and studies. The challenge that they face often, is distinguishing good sources of information from bad ones. In addition, the use of tags and keywords in the process of research also proves essential to information literacy. These sums up to one thing: identifying the best sources of information. Being in possession of good information literacy skills helps students with getting the best sources of information. Thus, some of the best sources of information that are recommended in information literacy are research journals and academic textbooks. These sources have the characteristic of giving reflections and discussions on what is being researched. The sources record and publish the results of both systematic and rigorous research. This would be helpful to scholars because research-based knowledge has evidence as its basis rather than opinion and anecdote. As one uses the recommended sources, there is need to check whether the sources are a person’s view or results of systematic research approach. This means that the ability to distinguish between different sources of literature and their levels of value will lead to one being scholarly. In addition to that, one should be able to establish the relevance of a source to academic study before applying the information acquired appropriately. Non-academic sources are rarely the best and thus should be treated with caution. As well, one should rely on latest ideas and theory on the subject of research. Sharing information with others In information literacy, the main aim of sharing information is to provide others with the same information so that you can change the other person’s opinion. The result is normally a compatible working and understanding of the world. Sharing information with others thus entails providing information, confirming information that has been received and confirming information that is jointly understood. Information literacy skills require that scholars should share information and even use information from others. Information can be shared in so many ways including through the use of technology that scholars can utilize. Conclusion Students and scholars can learn all they need to know in their field of study when information literacy skills are properly imparted in them. Information literacy offers students and scholars the critical skills that are necessary for them to become independent. They are considered skilled because they can organize knowledge. They are also able to find information and even know how to use it. In other words, information literate people use the information they have gathered in a manner that others can learn from them. Information literacy is thus, the basis of lifelong learning in all disciplines and levels of education. It goes as far as enabling learners to master their content and extend their investigations to a point where they have control over their learning. Therefore, those who have acquired information literacy should be able to determine the extent of information needed, access the required information effectively and efficiently, evaluate information and its sources critically and use the information effectively to accomplish certain objectives. References Carig, M (2015). “We Must Broaden the Circle of Literacy Leaders”. Literacy Daily, April 14, 2015 (online). Retrieved on 30th April, 2015 from < http://www.reading.org/literacy-daily/post/news/2015/04/14/we-must-broaden-the-circle-of-literacy-leaders> Staff, I. Thought Leaders on Literacy. Literacy Daily, April 14, 2015 (online). Retrieved on 30th April, 2015 from < http://www.reading.org/literacy-daily/ira/post/news/2015/04/14/thought-leaders-on-literacy> Hetch, B. Age Of Literacy: The Promise of Cross-Sector Collaboration. Living Cities, April 4, 2015 (online). 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