Which one of these scenarios is an example of utilizing information literacy skills

We already know that Information Literacy (IL) is a hot topic in higher education. It’s not a random term that academic librarians created to push their own agendas in the academic realm. It’s a real issue that goes beyond the concept of basic literacy (i.e. reading, writing, and arithmetic) and is closely tied to the idea of digital literacy, as it goes hand-in-hand with IL to a certain degree.

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“Information Literacy is not a random term that academic librarians created to push their own agendas in the academic realm…”
IL in the “Real World”
“We use information at our jobs, when researching where we’d like to go on vacation, when trying to decide who to vote for in an election, when looking to buy a house, etc…”
“You soon find out that the exotic-looking hotel the blogger raved about hasn’t been updated in about a decade and has bugs the size of your fist that sleep with you at night…”

“Information Literacy is not a random term that academic librarians created to push their own agendas in the academic realm…”

Many academic institutions have recognized the importance of IL and have woven the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education into their curricula. The role that academic librarians play is that we are proponents of information literacy. We dedicate time to instructing students (in the classroom, one-on-one, on the Web) about IL. We also work to inform teaching faculty about IL and how to incorporate it into their instruction so that there is a link between the concepts taught by librarians and how students use information in their classes.

IL in the “Real World”

What students don’t often realize (or they just aren’t looking that far into the future) is that having information literacy skills does not apply to education alone. It’s not a “library term”. Once they graduate and begin to make their way in the world, they will soon find that many employers are looking for job candidates who know how to effectively find, evaluate, and utilize information so they will be proficient doing so in their careers.

When we’re out in the “real world” (the reality that exists beyond our relatively sheltered college experience), our daily lives depend on how we process and use information. We use information at our jobs, when researching where we’d like to go on vacation, when trying to decide who to vote for in an election, when looking to buy a house, etc. So when I say that IL skills are necessary beyond the realm of academia, this is what I’m talking about.

“We use information at our jobs, when researching where we’d like to go on vacation, when trying to decide who to vote for in an election, when looking to buy a house, etc…”

Knowing when information is needed and knowing how to find reliable information is what allows a first-time homebuyer to do their research and to learn that there are counseling programs and other incentives for those who are new to homebuying. This same research know-how allows consumers to make informed decisions when they go to apply for a mortgage or refinance a property they already own.

IL skills allow an individual to recognize when information is misleading or downright misinformation. Say you were traveling to a foreign country that you know very little about, hoping to have a relaxing vacation. You found a person’s travel blog, and though they sound very knowledgeable about said country, you cannot find this person’s credentials. So how do you know the information can be trusted? You don’t.

“You soon find out that the exotic-looking hotel the blogger raved about hasn’t been updated in about a decade and has bugs the size of your fist that sleep with you at night…”

So instead of looking for a more authoritative site through a verified travel agency or another source, you take the person’s blog at face value. You arrive at your destination and soon find out that the exotic-looking hotel the blogger raved about hasn’t been updated in about a decade and has bugs the size of your fist that sleep with you at night. Yep, better learn to verify your information sources. That isn’t to say that you can never believe what you read on a blog or from another source that doesn’t have verifiable credentials. It simply means that IL skills will make it possible for you to evaluate information before deciding to put your faith in it.

These are just a few basic examples of why possessing information literacy skills is important in real-world applications. But there are plenty of more serious circumstances an individual might find themselves in where those IL skills might mean the difference between landing (or keeping) a job or applying for a home mortgage from a trusted source as opposed to the predatory lender.

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Examples of scenarios used during the workshop

Scenario 1

Clinical situation	Johan, two years old with Kawasaki syndrome, is being cared for in the pediatric ward. You are sure about the diagnosis, but Johan has not responded to standard treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in combination with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). 48 hours after IVIG, Johan still has a fever of 39°C, rising C-reactive protein at 211 mg/L, and increased absolute neutrophil count at 18×109/L. You want to intensify the treatment and are considering what alternative you ought to choose.
Questions for information search	What are treatment alternatives?What is the scientific support for different treatment alternatives? Which alternative do you choose, and how do you explain your decision?
Questions for large group discussions	Are you satisfied with the information you found?Where did you start your search?Which search words did you use? Where did you find the most relevant information?

Scenario 2

Clinical situation	During the night, Adam, five years old with a terminal illness, has been admitted to the ward after being cared for by his parents at home. The parents arrived at the ward with Adam after he had a seizure at home that got out of control. In the morning, the nurse said that she didn’t think Adam would live much longer. The family is Muslim (Christian) and you are Christian (Muslim). You realize that you lack sufficient knowledge about what wishes a Muslim (Christian) family could have regarding the care of Adam before and after his death.
Questions for information search	Consider how you can improve your knowledge through a literature search to be better prepared for counseling the parents. After the literature search, write down five keywords that summarize the most important knowledge that you gained. What have you noted down?
Questions for large group discussions	How trustworthy do you consider the information you found?How do you evaluate the trustworthiness of the information you found? What criteria did you use for this evaluation?

Scenario 3

Clinical situation	You receive a telephone call from the junior doctor on-call, as he wants to ask you about Sven, aged six months, who has been admitted to the ward with rib fractures. You are, of course, worried about the situation and how the fractures may have occurred. The father says that Sven is adopted from Ethiopia, came to Sweden two months ago, and has been treated for rickets due to vitamin D deficiency since one week of age. The father explains that Sven’s rib fractures are caused by his vitamin D deficiency.
Questions for information search	Use the computer to find out if there is any substance to the father’s explanation: Can vitamin D deficiency contribute to rib fractures? How does the information you find influence your assessment of the case?
Questions for large group discussions	What information source or sources did you build your assessment on? Did you consider it necessary to consult more than one source in this case?